Langa Masker - bongse langa-su

The human-headed maskers wore red and figured gowns respectively, heavy ankle-rattles, and carried horsetail switches. The red gown had cowries down the back seam and edges - the figured gown was more elaborately embroidered with cowries. The one with a black mask also had a porcupine quill sticking out of the underlip of the mask. Both had chains of white beads hanging from the sides of the masks. Round the base of the black mask worn by the wearer of the figured gown, were two rows of cowries - the faces of both dancers were covered with greyish netting.


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