African Arts Gallery

French collection of African tribal art . It is through different secret societies that the Bambara initiates will acquire their knowledge, including that of the Kore, targeting the elders and during which this mask intervenes. The society of the Kore is divided into eight classes of initiates, the sixth of which is that of the hyenas, or surukuw.

Abraded lumpy patina of use. Desiccation cracks. Missing parts.
Established in central and southern Mali, in a savannah area, the Bambara, "Bamana" or "unbelievers", as the Muslims have named them, belong to the large Mande group, with the Soninke and the Malinke. The Bambara nyamakala artisan groups, more specifically the blacksmiths called numu, are in charge of sculpting ritual objects, endowed with nyama, occult energy. Using fire and magical objects, the role of healer and soothsayer is also attributed to them.