African Arts Gallery

African mask dependent on the ntomo, initiatory society of uncircumcised youth widespread in the Niger River region. This ancient mask intervenes especially during harvests. At the top is the effigy of Nyeleni, the ideal wife of the initiates after circumcision. Matt wear patina abraded, gaps and cracks, original restoration (metal fragment).
Established in central and southern Mali, in an area of savannah, the Bambara, "Bamana" or "unbelievers", as the Muslims have named them, belong to the great Mande group, with the Soninke and the Malinke. Mostly farmers, but also herders, they make up the largest ethnic group in Mali. Animists, they believe in the existence of a god requires the gestation of a child. Ngala maintains the order of the universe. His existence coexists with another androgynous god called Faro, who has given all the qualities to men and who grows the fruits of the earth. The groups of Nyamakala artisans, more specifically the blacksmiths named numu, are in charge of the sculpture of ritual objects, endowed with nyama , occult energy. Using fire and magical objects, the role of healer and soothsayer is also assigned to them. Their powers are passed on to their wives, who alone have the right to produce pottery.