Books

Art and Culture in Burkina Faso The Thomas G.B. Wheelock Collection

Thomas Wheelock is well known as one of the most important collectors of art from Burkina Faso, formerly Upper Volta. In this abundantly illustrated book, he invites us to share his collection with him, to discover the many styles of the vast region, and to better understand the great variety of rituals which the masks are used for. He offers captivating descriptions of the many ethnic groups, including the Bobo, Mossi, Bwa, Nunuma, Nuna, Gurunsi and Lobi. The colored masks represent the village’s protective spirits, and are a trademark of Burkina Faso’s culture. The agriculture-based inhabitants of the dry savanna, where harvests depend on rains, use the masks in purification rituals, and to reconcile with the natural forces that rule them. The reader will also discover a multitude of ceremonial objects including costumes, dance ornaments, statues, jewelry and utilitarian objects. A rigorous analysis of the subject matter by Christopher Roy, well-known specialist in the area, makes the book an invaluable reference tool.