Story of the
Kalongo Mask
This mask represents the chief of the forest; it's called
"Kalongo". Kalongo comes from the native word Kalog(Kah-log) which
means "father of the forest". The mask Kalongo originated in a tribe
located in the tropics, called the Wakaca (Wa-Ka-Ka). It was made after a year
of drought to help the forest grow. The mask is worn by the eldest member of
the tribe during the Wakacie (Wa-Kah-Kee) ceremony. The Wakacie ceremony takes
place every year on September 3. During the Wakacie ceremony every child must
participate in the ceremonial dance, named after the original tribe leader
"Walalee". Everyone dresses in the tribal colour (green) and dances
to the Wakaca music. The one who wears the Kalongo mask during the Wakacie ceremony
is believed to give strength to the Kalongo spirit which passes through to the
forest. It is believed that if the mask is worn by the "son of the
forest" the tribe will receive an eternity of healthy plants. The flowers
symbolize the growth of the tribe, and another good year to come, while the
green tones represent the forest. The green glassy eyes are meant to scare away
any unwanted spirits from the surrounding land, protecting the Wakaca tribe and
the forest.