African Arts Gallery

African Art and the founding myths Bambara
In central and southern Mali, this abstract sculpture symbolizes the antelope-horse Ciwara ("wild animal of the earth") which, for the Bambara, Bamana" or "unbelievers", as the Muslims called them, is said to have taught man agriculture. She also offered him the first grain. The crest was fastened by raffia ties on a hat in basketwork. Brown matte patina. Abrasions, cracks and loss (base).
Worn at the top of the skull, these crests accompanied the dancers during the rituals of the tòn, an association dedicated to agricultural work. The masks traversed the field while leaping in order to drive out from this one the nyama, malefic emanations, and to detect any danger, or to flush out the malevolent genies who could ravish the soul of the cultivated plants as well as the life force of their seeds.