TOMA LANDAI MASKS, Guinea

The Toma mask above has been vetted as being authentic with significant signs of use and age.

The Toma mask above has been vetted as being authentic with signs of use and age.

TOMA STYLE LANDAI MASKS, Guinea

Despite their appearance, the Toma masks below were probably made to be sold.

Photographs © Hamill Gallery

TOMA, LANDAI MASKS, Guinea

These brooding, often quite large, masks represent a forest spirit, Landai. Masks like these were used by the men's Poro Society to initiate boys into manhood. The masks, in what was often a frightening ritual for the boys, would symbolically swallow the boy, who would then re-emerge as a man. The masks were worn with a large raffia costume. Most have a flat face, the traditional beaked nose, jaws of teeth, protruding brow and horns.

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