These masks were hand carved by Batonka craftsmen in the Zambezi River Valley of Zambia and Zimbabwe. Each tells the story of how the Batonka Tribe became fishermen.
Legend has it that a Batonka hunter was tracking an elephant when it went down to the river to drink. While watching the elephant, he saw a fish eagle catch a fish. Realizing that there was food in the river, he dove in to see what he could catch. Unfortunately, the hapless hunter was eaten by a crocodile! He is represented in spirit legend by the snake river god, Nyami Nyami.
The word Sobek, derived from an old Egyptian word, translates to crocodile. The masks are typically carved from exotic hardwoods such as teak, mahogany, and ironwood.
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January 23, 2002