ABSTRACT
Boys' masquerading activities in Dogon society are well integrated with the main masking endeavors of adult men. The boys dance as maskers, even if only the little piece of bark they clamp between their teeth distinguishes them as such. This masked performance for a dead fox, which mingles a serious role with intense amusement for all, reflects much of the involvement of Dogon boys with masks. The first major category is the adult emna masks, the masks well known in anthropological literature, and which are collectors' items all over the world. In Dogon society circumcision is not among the large rituals, but still forms an important step of the boys into the society of masks, first sagiri, later emna. The dama performance is for the boys a dividing line between childhood and manhood; in fact, it is the second one, after circumcision, and eventually the third will follow, when the boys see the sigi.
