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Toma


Object

Guinea 20th century wood & fabric 29 1/4 inches

Toma

The Toma people of Guinea (known as Loma in Liberia) number 200,000 and live in the high altitude rain forest lying across the Guinea-Liberia border. Artistically, their reputation rests on their Landia mask which has an articulated crocodile jaw and a flattened, stylized human face. This mask symbolically devours Poro society candidates at the end of their initiation period, after which they are revived as full members of this sodality. Some rare figures exist which are kept within each household.