One can recognize the hornbill by its large beak with bony outgrowth on top. It's relatively large size and
territorial nature. It is a devoted spouse and parent,
fetching food and trading places with its partner as it pro-
tects and incubates eggs in a walled up, hollow tree nest.
Oddly enough, the Senufo peoples often do not identify
their very large Poro society initiation sculptures, which
typically resemble a hornbill physically, as such. Most often
the Senufo describe these sculptures as "the bird" or another
species of bird, or just allude to its protective, nurturing
role in the Poro society (acc. no. 2005-6-48).
Figure of a hornbill
Senufo peoples, Côte d'Ivoire
19th to mid-20th century
Wood, paint
Gift of Walt Disney World Co., a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company,
2005-6-48
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