Africa: Art and Culture from the Upper Volta

Black, Red and White: Characterization of Painting Materials on a Group of Bwa Masks from Burkina Faso

“…According to Roy's descriptions, two different kinds of black paint are used on Bwa masks: what he called a 'thick black', obtained by boiling the seed pods from the Acacia nilotica tree, a synonym of Vachellia nilotica (L.) P.J.H.Hurter & Mabb. [22], a plant native to North Africa; and a 'thin black', prepared by mixing charcoal with a binder, such as egg [1]. The exclusive detection in the samples investigated in this study of tannins, and of no other organic binding media or black particles, indicated the black paint could be ascribed to the 'thick black' category.…”

“…While these analyses allowed us to determine the nature of the coloring material in the black paint, further experiments were undertaken to corroborate its source as reported in the literature. Following Roy's descriptions of the preparation of the so-called "thick black" paint [1], seed pods from Acacia nilotica were placed in a beaker, covered with distilled water, and boiled on a hot plate for 8 h (Figure 4A-C). While these analyses allowed us to determine the nature of the coloring material in the black paint, further experiments were undertaken to corroborate its source as reported in the literature.…”

“…Burkina Faso in West Africa, known as The Republic of Upper Volta until 1984, has been described as the land of masks since many people in this country make and use them. Masks are used during the year for diverse occasions such as family members' initiation, cults, funerals, burials, annual rites associated with harvesting cycles, introduction in the village of a new mask, as well as during performances for the villagers, and nowadays tourists, during market days [1]. Masks can be made with different materials, such as leaves and grass, carved wood, and decorated with various patterns and colors.…”

“…White is traditionally obtained in the form of excrement of lizards or snakes, but the use of schoolroom chalk is also mentioned. The use of enamel paint in place of the more traditional materials, both for newly made masks and to repaint older ones, has been reported [1,5]. The repainting process takes place usually every year and is preceded by immersion of the mask in a river or swamp for several weeks in order to kill the insects that easily attack the soft wood.…”

“…The repainting process takes place usually every year and is preceded by immersion of the mask in a river or swamp for several weeks in order to kill the insects that easily attack the soft wood. This process also removes much of the red and white paint, while the black paint, according to Roy's description, is water-insoluble and remains on the surface [1].…”