Bubu dancers perform at a wide range of celebrations - from the end of a harvest to the marking of important community milestones. The costumes are truly spectacular: layers of colourful fabric, raffia grass, bright paints and carefully carved or moulded masks transform the dancer into something between a person and a character from story and tradition. The sound of drumming and singing accompanies every performance.
Mask-making is a skilled craft that takes many years to learn properly. Artists choose materials carefully, shape the masks by hand and paint them in vivid patterns. Each mask has specific colours and features that identify the character it represents. In communities where Bubu dancing is practised, the masks are treated with great respect and the traditions surrounding them are carefully maintained.
For children watching a Bubu performance, it is one of the most exciting and colourful experiences imaginable. The dancers move to the rhythm of the drums in ways that seem almost impossible, spinning, jumping and swaying in their heavy costumes. Bubu dancing reminds Sierra Leonean communities of their shared history, their creativity and the stories that connect the generations.