A word derived from “vaca” twice and the most essential element of the dance, Waka Waka. Picture a dozen of these parading down a hilly street. It took years to convince the proprietor of the Waka rental store to sell these to us. About 20 years old. Cow hide stretched over wood frame.

Making fun of the Spaniards was allowed during Carnival without any repercussions to the indigenous populace. A Spaniard is depicted as a drunk with a wart on top of his very large nose with the infamous measle spots covering the entire head. Our recycled tin masks are usually painted in garish colors, but ever since that visit to the taller we have loved the plain unpainted versions.