Falui Masquerade Costume

This is a complete Falui masquerade costume. The Falui wears a headdress composed of a wicker frame covered in fabric, adorned with cowrie shells, and with a tuft of feathers at the top. The remainder of the costume is commonly made from country cloth, with raffia cloak and fringes. The Falui is a warrior devil, and dances with one hand; the other is said to have been lost in battle. This is one a series of masquerade costumes commissioned by the British Museum's Africa Programme and gifted to the National Museum of Sierra Leone in April 2011 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Sierra Leone's independence. It was made by Joseph Michael Lahai of the Gbortima Cultural Group.

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Further Information

• Type: Masks, headdresses, Costume, dress
• Object: Falui Masquerade Costume
• Materials: Textile, Leather, animal skin, Shell, Feather, fur, hair, horn, Vegetable, organic fibre
• Culture Group: Mende
• Dimensions: Unknown
• Production Date: 2011
• Associated Places: Bo (Place made)
• Associated People: Joseph Michael Lahai (Creator)
• Museum: Sierra Leone National Museum
• Accession Number: SLNM.2011.003.03

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