Goboi

photo © by Chad Finer

This men's spirit or masquerader [ sometimes characterized as a Devil ] was known in Mende country as Goboi. It seemed to come out and perform during celebrations such as during independence day or when dignitaries came to the area for visits. It was mainly a wild performer with somewhat frenzied dancing interspersed with a period of rest. Goboi had a number of attendants with it who both directed the dancing as well as danced with it.  Made of palm raffia and decorative headpiece of combined material including felt, the Goboi would perform for paramount chiefs and for politicians from Freetown, and also for anyone who might pass it by as it headed to celebrations. For a dance, you were expected to "dash" the Goboi with a shilling in order to both see it dance or after it had danced for you.  It seemed that this spirit's purpose was to amuse and entertain and in this way control large gatherings and keep them happy. I enjoyed how wild it seemed as it danced about and as its attendants guided it about. The attendants seemed to have fun and certainly those of us who watched it prance about were entertained. These photos were taken in Kenema Town in the Eastern Province of Sierra Leone in December 1968.

photo © by Chad Finer

photo © by Chad Finer