Today the Yohure mask today still holds great significance to the Yohure tribe who believe the masks resemble powerful tribal spirits called Yu spirits. The masks are usually worn during a funeral to honor the dead and help guide their spirit to its final resting place by appeasing the Yu spirits. During the funerals, the masks often used are plain black like the one above. After the funeral painted masks are worn during the je celebration which includes a dance that is meant to purify the village. Since the Yohure believe the masks hold great power, only men are allowed to wear the masks. The women of the tribe are not allowed to even lay eyes on them for fear of the repercussions that could arise as a result.
Since the mask is used for ceremonies it mostly fits into the societal aspect of the Yohure culture. You could argue that the mask may not carry great significance for most people but to the Yohure tribe it is a central pillar of their society and they most likely would not be able to continue to live their lives as comfortably without the reassurance that the mask brings. Yhoure masks can often be found in the arts collections of museums such as the Brooklyn Museum in Brooklyn, New York.
Image courtesy of http://www.buyafricanantiques.com/yaure_mask.htm
Since the mask is used for ceremonies it mostly fits into the societal aspect of the Yohure culture. You could argue that the mask may not carry great significance for most people but to the Yohure tribe it is a central pillar of their society and they most likely would not be able to continue to live their lives as comfortably without the reassurance that the mask brings. Yhoure masks can often be found in the arts collections of museums such as the Brooklyn Museum in Brooklyn, New York.
Image courtesy of http://www.buyafricanantiques.com/yaure_mask.htm