MBLO (Portrait Mask) Guiding Questions
MBLO (Portrait Mask) Guiding Questions
- What African village held secular masquerades in which this mask was used earlier in the 20th Century?
- What does the person who performs this mask wear when they perform?
- Who accompanies the performer as they dance for their audience?
- What do the villagers of Kami refer to the parodies / dances in which the Mblo is used?
- How were masks like this one kept / stored when not in use?
- When did this masquerade tradition stop?
- According to scholar Susan Vogel, what would participating in / enjoying the Gbagba allow for the residents of Kami?
- Who are the people shown in the black and white (contextual) photograph with this Mblo mask? What is their relationship to one another and to the mask?
- Who originally commissioned this mask? This means, who requested for this to made paid for it?
- What was Moya Yanso’s main talent that was celebrated via this mask and the Gbagba it was used in?
- During the Gbagba performances, what would Moya Yanso do, as long as she was able?
- Be able to describe the VISUAL CHARACTERISTICS of this portrait mask.
- What visual features of the mask suggest MODESTY and WISDOM?
- What visual features of the mask suggest AGE?
- What visual features of the mask suggest HEALTH?
- In the Baule society, who would always PERFORM, MAKE, and COMMISSION masks?