Hand Carved Wood Sculpture 'Two Face Kanaga Dragon'

Facing in both directions, a fierce dragon derives from Dogon religious customs. Salihu Ibrahim replicates a Kanaga mask. Mali's Dogon custom dictates that only the village blacksmith can craft the mask, inside a secret cave. It is fashioned after a wild forest hog, and whoever wears the Kanaga mask during the Dogon's sacred ceremonies is believed to become the Creator, symbolically. Today these dances are performed for the public, yet there are Dogon people who fear, respect and depend upon the power of the mask, and thus are very respectful of the Kanaga.