Abelam Baba Tagwa Masks
The Abelam people, along with neighboring groups from the Prince Alexander Mountains in the Sepik region of northeast New Guinea, craft various types of basketry masks. One such mask is the baba tagwa, worn over the head like a helmet, as shown here. Another type, the tje yam mask, is used to adorn the large, competitively exchanged yams cultivated by Abelam men. Baba tagwa masks hold significance in the male initiation process, where they are worn by men dressed in rugged costumes made from leaf strips. In certain ceremonies, these striking masked figures act as protectors, wielding bamboo or other weapons to ward off women, children, and uninitiated men, who are not allowed to witness the sacred initiation rituals.
This style of mask is just one of many of the different styles of Sepik mask and Sepik masks are only a small proportion of New Guinea masks. The Abelam People also made Abelam Sculptures and again these are only one style of Sepik Sculpture
The above masks show some of the variety of Abelam Baba masks. They vary in size from 33cm in height to 60 cm in height. BabaTagwa masks are made using the same technique as Yam masks.
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