Imina na mask

The imina mask is used during the Sigi festival, which takes place every 60 years. It is the only mask that appears during this festival, despite more than seventy types of different masks in the Dogon culture. Its uniqueness also lies in the fact that it never dances but only stands in the main square where the men's dances occur. In the Sigi-so language, Awa duno translates as great Awa or old Awa. The name imina na comes from the Dogo-so language and means great mask or imina mask.The mask represents a snake. It is a representation of Lebe, i.e. the first ancestor to fall victim to death. Having lost their immortality, the Dogon decided to leave the country of Mande, their ancestral homeland. Before leaving, they dug up the grave of the dead Lebe to take his remains with them. In the place where they buried the deceased's body, they found a live giant snake, which led them to the area they inhabit to this day. The Dogon also took the soil from Lebe's grave, and in Kani-Bonzon, the first village they founded in the Bandiagara Escarpment, they formed the first altar of Lebe from it. Then in all other villages, they also erected similar altars, using the soil from the first altar to build them. The cult of Lebe, one of cults of life, focused on the power of earth and vegetation, is built around the ancestor transforming into a snake after death.The mask imina na is always very long, up to 10 metres long. It must be made from a single piece of wood. It is the property of the community. After the Sigi festival, it is kept with similar masks from previous festivals in a place carefully guarded against intruders.

Ewa Prądzyńska