So'o mask

This mask opens its mouth wide in an otherworldly leer. Meant to represent a chimpanzee-human, the mask is a mash-up of civilized human life and the chaotic, animal savagery of the forest. The artist has captured this liminal status in the mask. Its features are almost human, with a thin nose and sweeping brows. Most Hemba viewers would see the mouth not as a smile but as a terrible, gaping grimace.

This terrifying mask would have been worn at formal memorial services held a year or two after the death and burial of an important member of the community. Hemba communities have historically celebrated no other major festivals, and so periodic funerals serve as occasions for a community reunion that friends from far-off towns travel to attend. Before the performances, the masquerader ran through the town streets, scaring children and pregnant women, who fled immediately upon his approach. The masquerader would have appeared ungainly and disconcerting, with no visible arms and remaining silent, signaling his presence only through his mad dash and the sound of iron bells. During performances by other groups, the mask loses its terrifying aspect and instead mocks the graceful or intricate movements of youthful dancers. This mask may represent mortality, and its capers may help people cope with the dreaded reality of death.