N’tomo Mask. Bamana people, Mali. Painted wood. Characterized by multiple horns and, sometimes, eyelashes and white shell ornamentation, these masks serve to protect young boys during their first initiation cycle before circumcision. This style, with the head of the woman in front of the horns is made by Bougouni people in Mali. The number of horns make reference to specific characteristics of males (3 or s3 horns) or females (4 or 8 horns) and the androgynous (2, 5 or 7).
