Anthropomorphic face mask "tankagle"

wood, eyes damaged along lower rim (probably once narrow with metal borders)


"Tankagle" means something close to "dancing miming masquerade". They entertain the spectators with various beautiful dances, and sometimes they perform short skits or songs. "Tankagle" wears "komo", a bonnet-like cap with applied decorations including the "bla ka", a strip of goat skin covered with cowrie shells. The costume consists of of a pair of trousers with a skirt of bast fibre. The mask dancers wear leg rattles and hold calebash rattles in their hands.