Inside the Dogon Masks: The Selection of Woods for Ritual Objects

A study of 15 traditional Dogon masks from Mali's Bandiagara cliffs reveals a strong preference for ceiba (Ceiba pentandra) wood, used in 10 masks, while marula (Sclerocarya birrea) and African grape (Lannea spec.) were less common. This finding suggests the sacred significance of ceiba in Dogon ritual practices, with implications for understanding their cultural and religious traditions. The research analyzed mask materials to uncover patterns in wood selection, guided by the Awa secret society's rules.

Bontadi, J., & Bernabei, M. (2016). Inside the Dogon Masks: The Selection of Woods for Ritual Objects. IAWA Journal, 37(1), 84–97. https://doi.org/10.1163/22941932-20160122