TITLE: Toussian (Tusyan) Loniaken Mask
TYPE: plank mask
GENERAL REGION: Africa
COUNTRY: Burkina Faso
ETHNICITY: Toussian (Tusyan)
DESCRIPTION: Loniaken Plank Mask for Do or Lo Society
CATALOG #: AFBF001
MAKER: Unknown
CEREMONY: Adult Initiation; Funeral; Secret Society
AGE: 1980s
MAIN MATERIAL: wood
OTHER MATERIALS: wicker; mineral paint; raffia fiber

The Toussian (also written Tusyan) people are a small ethnic group in southwestern Burkina Faso. Members of the Do or Lo Society dance these masks at funerals and during adult initiation ceremonies of young men. At the ceremonies, the boys are given new, secret names associated with totemic birds or animals.  The loniaken mask itself usually portrays a totemic hornbill bird, and it is specially danced in major Do or Lo Society ceremonies that occur every forty years.

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REGION: Africa
COUNTRY: Burkina Faso
YEAR PRINTED: 1988
VALUE: 30 francs

This stamp was issued Burkina Faso in 1988 to celebrate the bubale (the Longolo antelope) mask of the Houet province.

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REGION: Africa
COUNTRY: Burkina Faso (Rep. of Upper Volta)
YEAR PRINTED: 1981
VALUE: 85 francs

This stamp is one of a series issued by the Republic of Upper Volta (modern Burkina Faso) in 1981 celebrating the art of the Gurunsi and Kurumba people. Each stamp depicts a painting by Roger Nacoulma, in this case a Kurumba antelope crest mask.

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REGION: Africa
COUNTRY: Burkina Faso (Rep. of Upper Volta)
YEAR PRINTED: 1981
VALUE: 105 francs

This stamp is one of a series issued by the Republic of Upper Volta (modern Burkina Faso) in 1981 celebrating the art of the Bwa and Gurunsi people. Each stamp depicts a painting by Roger Nacoulma, in this case a Gurunsi ancestor spirit mask (literally, “ancestor supporting spirits”).

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REGION: Africa
COUNTRY: Burkina Faso (Rep. of Upper Volta)
YEAR PRINTED: 1960
VALUE: 1 franc

This stamp is one of a series celebrating the masks of Bwa and Gurunsi people issued by the Republic of Upper Volta (modern Burkina Faso) when it was a self-governing French colony. This mask represents a bush spirit in the form of a warthog.

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REGION: Africa
COUNTRY: Burkina Faso
YEAR PRINTED: 1997
VALUE: 250 francs

This stamp is one of a series of 4 issued by the government of Burkina Faso in 1997 celebrating the masks of Bwa and Gurunsi people. Each stamp depicts a painting of the mask, in this case a plank or “blade” mask.

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REGION: Africa
COUNTRY: Burkina Faso
YEAR PRINTED: 1997
VALUE: 200 francs

This stamp is one of a series of 4 issued by the government of Burkina Faso in 1997 celebrating the masks of Bwa and Gurunsi people. Each stamp depicts a painting of the mask, in this case an antelope known locally as a coba.

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REGION: Africa
COUNTRY: Burkina Faso
YEAR PRINTED: 1997
VALUE: 150 francs

This stamp is one of a series of 4 issued by the government of Burkina Faso in 1997 celebrating the masks of Bwa and Gurunsi people. Each stamp depicts a painting of the mask, in this case a duck.

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REGION: Africa
COUNTRY: Burkina Faso
YEAR PRINTED: 1997
VALUE: 75 francs

This stamp is one of a series of 4 issued by the government of Burkina Faso in 1997 celebrating the masks of Bwa and Gurunsi people. Each stamp depicts a painting of the mask, in this case a water buffalo.

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REGION: Africa
COUNTRY: Burkina Faso (Rep. of Upper Volta)
YEAR PRINTED: 1960
VALUE: 5 francs

This stamp is one of a series celebrating the masks of Bwa and Gurunsi people issued by the Republic of Upper Volta (modern Burkina Faso) when it was a self-governing French colony. This mask represents a bush spirit in the form of a monkey.

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