Senufo Kworo Headdress

The Poro society of the Senufo people employs a diverse range of helmet masks and headdresses performed at initiation and funeral rites. Whereas the main responsibility of the Poro caste is to facilitate a good relationship between the living and ancestral worlds, members also sought good will from nature spirits. This beautifully carved wood kworo headdress presents the Senufo in relationship to the forest, a place flush with spirits ready to aid or thwart hunting, farming, and foraging its resources. Rich in decorative detail and texture, this carved wooden headdress branches off from a central seated figure in a tree-like composition that’s alive with monkeys, antelopes, lions, and other figures. An enlightening cultural artifact, this work of art thrills with its expressive forms and dynamic play with light and shadow.