Abelam Ceremonial Yam Mask Baba treebarkfibrebags 700 BC–400 AD)

700 BC–400 AD)

Luba or Kusu people

when a vast lake covered the region during the Sahara’s “Green Period

enhances its aesthetic appeal while preserving its functionality

They may have been intended for ritual use as symbolic weapon adornments

Abelam Ceremonial Yam Mask Baba treebarkfibrebags 700 BC–400 AD)Abelam people, mid. 20th century, Maprik district, East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea. Mesmerizing, tightly woven yam mask (baba, also known as bapamini) from the Abelam people of the Prince Alexander Mountains in the Sepik region of northeast New Guinea. This traditional mask is crafted from wild vine (Lygodium) fiber and features a prominent ridge for the nose, concentric rings for the eyes, and an elaborate crest adorned with zigzag patterns.