Nufori acrobat-mask performs the final rituals of a Senufo funeral, near Korhogo, Ivory Coast

"On the last day of the ceremony, two Nufori acrobat-masks into the village square perform the final rituals of a Senufo funeral. Known as Panthers of the Poro, the maskers wear brown, spotted costumes made from mud-dyed ritual cloth, designed to terrify the women and children in the audience, who are mormally excluded from masked rituals. The masks are accompanied by a Boloye band, who play unique one-stringed calabash harps called bolongo, plucking the string and tapping the side of the instrument with metal finger rings to establish rhythm." [Beckwith C., Fisher A., 1999: African Ceremonies. Volume 2. Harry N. Abrams, Inc., Publishers]. This photograph was taken when Eliot Elisofon was on assignment for Westinghouse Film and traveled to Africa from October 26, 1970 to end of March 1971.