| The most spectacular Bidjogo mask is a helmet mask called Vaca Bruto (meaning "wild cattle"). The largest examples are found on the islands of Uno and Formosa. The dancer gives the object its most realistic presence by bowing and facing the ground. Its eyes of frosted glass, real horns, leather ears and the rope through the nostrils are all animated by the bucking of the boy. These features convey the illusion of a real untamed animal. This corresponds to the idea of a man in full possession of his physical strength but still immature in his behavior because he has not yet undergone all the initiation trials.
A young man in the cabaro stage of maturity, which lasts for some 10 years, wears the heaviest costumes. Elements of these costumes include back ornaments, belts, bells, arm guards and heavy, painted masks carved from wood. These objects show that he is still only a brutal beast. He has the right to be stylish and even whimsical. In the full bloom of youth and without regular work, he enjoys the best time of his life. He has romances with women and travels throughout the islands as his responsibilities increase with age. |