Land of the Flying Masks

The collection of Thomas Wheelock is the largest assemblage of Burkina Faso art in the world. Now made accessible to the public for the first time in this book, it reveals the country's enormous artistic range. Featured here are examples of the intricate and brightly colored masks for which Burkina Faso is most well known, and which are used throughout the country in traditional ceremonies and celebrations. The collection also contains a multitude of other ceremonial objects such as costumes, dance ornaments, statues, instruments and pieces of jewelry as well as beautifully crafted everyday items such as spoons, pots, baskets, stools and chairs. The pieces in this marvelously panoramic collection reflect a country rich in cultural diversity, tradition, and artistry.

Thomas Wheelock has traveled and collected extensively in Burkina Faso for more than thirty years. He has assembled the world's leading collection of art from this country.

Christopher Roy has published a number of books on Burkina Faso and is regarded as the leading scholar of the country's material culture. He is Professor of the History of African Art at the University of Iowa.