Bedu in Performance Gallery

Contemporary masking tradition, Côte d'Ivoire West Africa, featuring the towering two-metre tall Bedu plankmasks. A time of fear, fun and the reaffirmation of village life mixed in a heady brew of ritual, dance and song.

The display:
Performance Gallery presents one of the large Bedu plankmasks on open display. Dressed and complete with costume, Bedu towers to three metres. With Bedu are some of the drums that would have performed alongside the masquerade.
A large black and white photograph dramatically places Bedu in the context of a night masquerade.
Two small "souvenir" Bedu masks can be "tried on" by visitors; putting your face to the mask will activate the sound of Bedu songs.

Find out more

- Consider the performance: as Spectator, as Performer, as Maker
- Bedu masks in Brighton Museum's collection
- Find out more about Bedu performance

Bedu masquerade - SPECTATOR

	A boy is initated in the presence of the miniature Bedu © Karel Arnaut 1994

It is new year in Bondoukou. You are eight and afraid. The Bedu wild animal is in your village. You know it can kill.

They take you to Bedu. You must touch its face. But your fingers touch wood. Your tongue tastes cold paint. You see that Bedu is a mask, you know the man who wears it.

Bedu has been tamed.
You can keep a secret. From today, you have become part of the performance.

Bedu masquerade - PERFORMER

	Performer being transformed into Bedu ©Karel Arnaut

It is night. Bedu is here. For a time everybody becomes performer. The crowd surges and chants. There is drumming, clapping, dancing, laughter. At the fringes, the little steward Bedu keeps control.

The tone changes to drama. The crowd circles Bedu, singing songs of life's tragedies. We are reminded of our family values. Through Bedu, social order is renewed.

The masker removes his towering mask. For two hours he has danced Bedu to life.

Bedu masquerade - MAKER

	Koffi Djereba, Bedu sculptor of Tambi, Côte d'Ivoire © Karel Arnaut 1993

Legend has it that long ago a hunter saw wild Bedu dancing. Back in the village he imagined what it looked like and made its image in wood. Bedu has been danced in Bondoukou ever since.

As each new year approaches, the Bedu is renewed. In the bush, men carve and clothe it in beaten baobab bark.

In the village women tame Bedu with paint - red for the earth, white for God and the ancestors, and black for the spirits.