Bedu plank mask
Bondoukou region, Ivory Coast
45 inches, painted wood

The Bedu Association only dates back to the 1930s and spread throughout several tribes-- the Nafana, Degha, and Kulango peoples. They are Gur-speaking people who are considered part the Gurunsi group. Though they are a small culture—less than 50,000—they are scattered over parts of Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, and Burkina Faso, and are mainly hunters and fishermen.

Usually about 60 inches tall, a Bedu mask can go to 8 feet and weigh as much as 100 pounds.  Very popular in the West,  these masks are eagerly sought after by collectors and decorators for the strong abstract statement they make on the wall. This one is on the small side and was probably intended for sale to the trade.

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