Ceremonial sickle for the Do (or Dwo) society

In central and western Burkina Faso, a masquerader would have carried this sickle during religious events among people who identify as Bobo or Bwa. Wearing an ensemble of leaves gathered from sacred trees, the masquerader was viewed as a personification of Do (or Dwo), the son the creator God Wuro. Do masqueraders appear between March and June each year, and represent a spiritual practice dating from at least the 19th century where worshippers connect to the will of God through his son, Do. Possibly modeled after a talking drum striking instument, this iron scepter was used to enforce the laws of the Do society, a group that often includes village blacksmiths.