African Arts Gallery

Ancient tribal sculpture that was worn on the head, fixed on a wickerwork headdress. It is said that an animal - genius called Ciwara taught the Bambara, or Bamana, to cultivate the land. The latter remember the myth through the stylized representation of a roan antelope, whose name ci wara means "wild beast of the earth". Worn on top of the skull and held in place by a sort of small basket, these crests accompanied the dancers during the rituals of the tòn , an association dedicated to agricultural work. The masks traveled through the field, leaping in order to chase away evil scents, and to detect any danger, or to flush out evil geniuses that could steal the soul of cultivated plants as well as the vital force of their seeds. Established in central and southern Mali, the Bambara, "Bamana" or "unbelievers", as the Muslims called them, belong to the large Mande group, with the Soninke and the Malinke. Velvety matte patina, cracks.