BAMANA Komo Head Crest Mask (with Teeth)

A horizontal animalistic Bamana Komokun head crest (1st half 20th C., 71 cm) from Mali — an elongated snout with massive gaping jaws revealing real inserted animal teeth, topped with horns, heavily entombed in a dark coagulated and cracked sacrificial crust. Paired with 0377.

1. The Zoomorphic Architecture of Fear

The masks of the Komo society (Komokun) are masterpieces of psychological intimidation and chimeric assemblage.

• Chimeric Combination: They do not represent a single animal — they combine the most dangerous elements of the wilderness: jaws of a crocodile or hyena, horns of an antelope, and actual animal teeth set into the wooden jaw.
• Supernatural Beast Architecture: The aggressive horizontal architecture transforms the wearer into a supernatural beast that commands the chaotic forces of the bush.

2. The Judiciary of the Komo Society

Worn horizontally on the top of the head by the Komotigi (chief and master blacksmith of the Komo society), these masks are instruments of supreme social control.

• Nocturnal Judicial Force: The Komo functions as the ultimate police and judicial force in Bamana culture — masked dancers emerge only at night, performing wild fire-breathing dances to seek out malevolent sorcerers, punish criminals, and assert the authority of the elders.
• Real Teeth as Weapons: The inclusion of actual animal teeth conceptually weaponizes the mask against witchcraft — biting and consuming the hidden enemies of the community.

3. Boli-Like Patina and Additive Magic

Much like the Boliw altars, these masks derive their power from additive magic.

• Tar-Like Crust: Heavily encrusted with a thick tar-like patina of coagulated blood, mud, and chewed kola nuts.
• The crust is particularly dense around the jaw — locking the real animal teeth firmly into the wooden structure through decades of sacrificial accumulation.