initiation masks found among the Dogon, the
Kurumba or Nioniosi, and the Bamana. Although
each of these cultures has its own unique art,
based on its myths, histories, and oral traditions,
there are also similarities among them.
This is the context for the N’domo initiation
mask. African art is called abstract because beauty
is not simply the precise imitation of nature;
rather, it is a way to distort or create in such a
manner as to approach the unknown. The African
artists of the blacksmith clan created and carved
to please the gods, not to make money. One can
see why there is no single word for art in any
African language. Art not only serves a function,
but also is expected to be pleasing. The Bamana
use the expressionmafile fenw,laje fenw, which
means “things to look at.”
The N’domo is one of several initiations.
According to the Bamana, one does not exist as an
individual, but as a person who is a member of the
community. To exist as a person (consider the
Latinper-sona, mask worn by actors) means that
the dancer with the N’domo mask must play the
part reserved for the mask. This is why the
N’domo dancer covers his head. Authorities differ
on the number of Bamana initiation rites, but it is
generally agreed that there are six or seven. These
initiations rely on the Bamana founding ancestor
spirit’s personality, symbols, masks, and cere-
monies. What is called art among the Bamana
seems to have been produced by the blacksmiths
for one or another of these initiation societies.
The perfection of the N’domo mask used by the
Bamana in the second part of the initiation cycle
for boys is found in the adult dancer who wears
the mask. The vertical wooden prongs on top of
the mask signify wisdom of the cosmos, the
bulging face and forehead of the mask represent
intelligence, and the large nose represents fertility
and procreation. In the end, the ceremony for
boys includes circumcision, teaching about appro-
priate behavior, and a revelation of the mysteries
of the founding ancestor.
The N’domo mask is neither a theatrical acces-
sory nor a piece of art in the Western sense.
Rather, it is an object that radiates the energy and
beauty of the deity or ancestor it represents. Thus,
the N’domo mask confers on the dancer who
wears it the power of the spirit it represents. All
mask wearers, however, must ensure that they
do not break the taboos of the mask, or they will
create problems for themselves; in some cases, a
person might even face death. Therefore, it is
mandatory that the wearers of the masks swear
secrecy to the powers of the mask.
When we consider the N’domo mask as a part
of the initiation, we need to think about art with-
out classifying it according to Western aesthetic
ideals. Given the variety and number of works
in which African artists have projected their
thoughts in three dimensions as sculptors of
wood, stone, bronze, and other materials, they
might be considered to be some of the world’s
greatest sculptors, although their names have
rarely been passed down.Molefi Kete AsanteSeealsoBamana; Initiation; Rites of PassageFurther Readings
Brook, L. (1999).Daily Life in Ancient and Modern
Timbuktu. Minneapolis, MN: Runestone Press.
Jackson, J. (1970).Introduction to African Civilizations.
Secaucus, NJ: Citadel Press.
Martin, P., & O’Meara, P. (1995).Africa(3rd ed.).
Bloomington: Indiana University Press.
McNaughton, P. (1988).The Mande Blacksmiths:
Knowledge,Power and Art in West Africa.
Bloomington: Indiana University Press.
Willett, F. (1995).African Art:An Introduction. New
York: Thames and Hudson.NEB ANKH
Neb ankhmeans “lord of life” or “possessor of
life.” It can be used as a title or can refer to one’s
most prized possession or to the outermost layer
of the coffin. Hundreds of years after the Africans
in Egypt developed the neb ankh, the Greeks
referred to it assarcophagus, meaning the flesh
eater; thus, Greek usage removed the ancient
meaning of lord of life.
Through the ages, the neb ankh evolved
through many forms, from the most simple and
unadorned wood boxes to the most elaborate
gilded container for the deceased. Occupying a444 Neb Ankh