Luxsure attended the inauguration of the ” Sacred Wood, Initiation in the Guinean Forests ” exhibition to be seen at Quai Branly from March 4 to May 18, 2014.
The museum plunges us into the heart of the Guinean forests to discover the Poro initiation system. Poro is an initiation ritual practiced by Guinean forest dwellers. It is thought to have been established in the 16th century by the Toma, and later adopted by other West African populations. Objects, and masks in particular, play an essential role in this ritual, materializing the power held by a few grand initiates.
During the Poro, a confidential apprenticeship system, boys go deep into the forest to receive various teachings and pass tests in order to acquire a new status.
Curator Aurélien Gaborit has brought together various masks, statuettes and carved stones, which are presented according to the roles they play in the Poro.
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