Kabemba Mask

This resembles a Kabemba, or Ka-bemba, mask worn during the initiation of Temne boys into the Poro society. Ka-bemba means grandfather, or forefather, and is worn by the person who leads the boys into the society bush for circumcision, and then out again. This example had a pair of horns, characteristic of Kabemba masks, but they have been broken off. It has scarification marks on its forehead, and cheeks, and a string of blue and black glass beads through a hole in its right ear.