[1] Portrait Mask (N'Doma)
The Baule people of the central Cote d'Ivoire create human and animal
masks for perfomrances whcih satirize and comment upon daily life. Some
of the masks, called N'doma, are portrait masks of specific individuals
who have been so honored because of some greatly adminred skill or quality.
Female portrait masks, such as the Art Institute example, usually depict
women of great beauty or considerable dancing ability. Some informants
suggest that a portrait mask is meant to be an identifiable likeness of
its subject; others maintain that the resemblence is to be found in details
of coiffure and scarification as well as in articles of clothing
and jewelry worn by the masked dancer.
The subject accompanies the mask in danced performances, and continues to
do so as long as she is physically able. When she dies, a worthy female
descendant may be chosen to take her place and the mask then takes the name
of the successor and becomes her "double." In this way, the mask
is handed down through generations of the same family, continuing a tradition
of honor and distinction.