How did the Bambara Komo society use powerful animal-shaped masks?

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raffia-fiber cloth — African art Raffia-fiber cloth, made by the Kuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, mid-20th century; in the Honolulu Academy of Arts.

The Bambara Komo society serves as the custodian of tradition, playing a vital role in all aspects of community life, including agriculture, judicial processes, and passage rites.1

The society’s masks are regarded as enormously powerful and are crafted in an elongated animal form. These masks are physically enhanced with various objects, such as:1

Actual antelope horns1
Porcupine quills1
Bird skulls1

By incorporating these materials, the masks embody the authority and spiritual significance required for the Komo society to oversee the social and moral order of the community.1