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The Kanaga mask is a mask of the Dogon of Mali traditionally used by members of the Awa Society, especially during the ceremonies of the cult of the dead (dama, ceremony of mourning).

Symbolism

The Kanaga mask evokes the Creator God Amma. It presents a double cross shape, which reminds the creation of the world, danced during funeral ceremonies where it is used by members of the Awa society. The general uninitiated public tends to see there various animal subjects : the kommolo tebu (a bird), the lizard, the iguana, the barâmkamza dullogu (a water insect), the hand of God or the female spirit of the trees (gyinu ya). The mask is represented both in male and female form. The male version is the most numerous.

Kanaga is represented on the flag of French Sudan (1892–1958) and the ephemeral Republic of Sudan (1958–1959). As well as that of the Federation of Mali (1959–1960) grouping Senegal and the Sudanese Republic.

Gallery

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• Flag of French Sudan
• Flag of Mali Federation (1959-1961)

References

1. Masque Kanaga
2. Marcel Griaule in Masques dogons, thèse de doctorat, 1938
3. Dogon… mais encore, Département d'Ethnologie, Université de Strasbourg
4. Imperato, Pascal James (cont. Martin and Osa Johnson Safari Museum), The Cultural Heritage of Africa, Safari Museum Press (1974), pp. 28-29

Bibliography

• Marcel Griaule et Germaine Dieterlen, Le renard pâle : 1 Le Mythe cosmogonique, fasc. 1 La création du monde, Institut d'Ethnologie, Paris, 1991 (rééd.), p. 171-172
• Nadine Martinez, Écritures africaines: esthétique et fonction des écritures Dogon, Bamana et Sénoufo, L'Harmattan, Paris, 2010, 272 p. ISBN 9782296117341
• Famedji-Koto Tchimou, Langage de la danse chez les Dogons, L'Harmattan, Paris, 1995, 174 p. ISBN 9782296294660

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