Toussian Loniaken Mask

The Toussian people, also known as Tusyan, are a small ethnic group residing in the southwestern region of Burkina Faso. During adult initiation ceremonies of young men and funerals, members of the Do or Lo Society dance with masks. At these ceremonies, the boys are given new, secret names associated with totemic birds or animals. The loniaken mask is often used to portray a totemic hornbill bird and is specially danced in major Do or Lo Society ceremonies that occur every forty years.