The Wild Bull and the Sacred Forest: Form, Meaning and Change in Senegambian Initiation Masks of the Diola (RES Monographs in Anthropology and Aesthetics)

The vibrant culture of the Jola people of Senegal's Casamance region is epitomized by the colorful rituals of the male initiation ceremony, which occurs once in a generation. In The Wild Bull and the Sacred Forest: Form, Meaning, and Change in Senegambian Initiation Masks, Dr. Peter Mark makes an in-depth examination of the masks worn by a select few initiates in this ritual, which illuminates Jola culture and its underlying religious and social structures. Based on research gathered from numerous field trips to West Africa and unpublished archival materials, Dr. Mark presents a subtle interpretation of horned masquerades, their complex symbolism, and the metaphysical concepts to which they allude. In tracing the cultural interaction and changing identity of the people of the Casamance, he convincingly demonstrates a new and dynamic approach to the study of art and ethnic identity, which is viewed as a continuous process rather than a fixed entity. Integrating art historical and anthropological methods, The Wild Bull and the Sacred Forest provides a detailed and innovative view of a Senegalese culture as it has evolved over two centuries.