African Arts Gallery

Bozo polychrome works in African art from Mali
African animal mask in the shape of a fish to celebrate Faro, genius of water.
The Bozo, fishermen and farmers for the most part, live in the northern part of the Bambara country in the interior delta of the Niger and still remain semi-nomadic today, moving their homes according to seasonal floods. Mande-speaking people, they speak Sorogama. Within their group, we distinguish the Sorko or Sorogo, the Hain, and the Tie. In addition to their remarkable traditional masks, the Bozo and the Bambara are renowned for their puppets of various sizes and frequently articulated, exhibited during the Sogow bo puppet theater which is organized on the initiative of young people from the villages, mainly in the Ségou region. , and which ...

Bozo polychrome works in African art from Mali
African animal mask in the shape of a chubby fish to celebrate Faro, genius of water.
The Bozo, fishermen and farmers for the most part, live in the northern part of the Bambara country in the interior delta of the Niger and still remain semi-nomadic today, moving their homes according to seasonal floods. Mande-speaking people, they speak Sorogama. Within their group, we distinguish the Sorko or Sorogo, the Hain, and the Tie. In addition to their remarkable traditional masks, the Bozo and the Bambara are renowned for their puppets of various sizes and frequently articulated, exhibited during the Sogow bo puppet theater which is organized on the initiative of young people from the villages, mainly in the Ségou region. , and ...

Puppet sculpture involved in the fourth initiatory rank of the Bamana Koré society, Bambara, this cane is named, like the horse mask, Kore Duga or the Kore vulture b>. The name of the mask refers to the satirical behavior of the dancer-jester who straddles the stick during his performance. It has various objects associated with the knowledge dispensed by the Koré, the last initiatory society of the Bamana. The handle has a flat, slightly curved seat and is extended by a sculpted head.
Black oiled, velvety patina, minor abrasions and erosions, cracks.

Emblematic figure intended for the kibe-kibe, or Ebokita dance (S.Diakonoff) this sculpture refers to the mythical ancestor Oso. The face bears scarified patterns, and the mouth reveals sharp teeth.
Polychrome satin patina. Erosions.
In the past, the Kouyou were divided into two totemic clans: in the West that of the panther, and in the East that of the serpent. A secret male association, Ottoté, played an important political role in the appointment of chiefs. The initiation of young men ended with the revelation of the serpent god Ebongo represented in the form of a head. The Kibe-kibe or Kebekebe dances, which accompanied the ceremony, reactivated the successive stages of creation. The panther clan had a drum as its emblem. For its part, the snake clan had ...

Ritual sculpture intervening in the fourth initiatory rank of the Koré society of the Bamana, Bambara, this cane is named, like the horse mask, Kore Duga or the vulture of Kore b>. The name of the mask refers to the satirical and trivial behavior of the dancer-jester who straddles the stick during his performance. It has various objects associated with the knowledge dispensed by the Koré, the last initiatory society of the Bamana.
The handle has a flat and curved seat representing the saddle and is extended by a removable head. Velvety dark patina, erosions.
Lit. : "Horse and rider of black Africa" G. Massa, ed. SEPIA.

Bozo polychrome works in African art from Mali.
This African puppet-mask would honor Faro, genius of water. A piece of textile hides the joint of the tail. Locally abraded polychrome patina. Slight lack.
The Bozo, fishermen and farmers for the most part, live in the northern part of the Bambara country in the interior delta of the Niger and still remain semi-nomadic today, moving their homes according to seasonal floods. Mande-speaking people, they speak Sorogama. Within their group, we distinguish the Sorko or Sorogo, the Hain, and the Tie. In addition to their remarkable traditional masks, the Bozo and the Bambara are renowned for their puppets of various sizes and frequently articulated, exhibited during the Sogow bo puppet theater which is organized on the initiative of ...

Ritual instrument used in the fourth initiatory rank of the Bamana Kore society, Bambara, this cane is named, like the horse mask, Kore Duga or the Kore vulture b>. The name of the mask refers to the satirical behavior of the dancer-jester who straddles the stick during his performance. It has various objects associated with the knowledge dispensed by the Koré, the last initiatory society of the Bamana. The handle has a slightly curved flat seat and is extended by a sculpted head. Black brown patina, erosions and cracks, lack.

African puppet emblematic of the Kouyou type, intended for the dance kibe-kibe, or Ebokita (S.Diakonoff) this sculpture refers to the ancestor mythical Oso. The face bears scarified patterns, and the mouth reveals sharp teeth.
Polychrome satin patina. Erosions and cracks.
Formerly, the Kouyou were divided into two totemic clans: in the West that of the panther, and in the East that of the snake. A secret men's association, Ottoté, played an important political role in the appointment of chiefs. The initiation of young people ended with the revelation of the serpent god Ebongo represented in the form of a head. The Kibe-kibe or Kebekebe dances, which accompanied the ceremony, reactivated the successive stages of creation. The panther clan had a drum as their emblem. ...

African statue of the "colon" type, offering articulated arms. The back has been notched so that a manipulation rod can be inserted. Patina of use, polychrome, abraded. Desication cracks, slight losses.
The Ibibios, people of West Africa mainly present in the south-east of Nigeria (State of Akwa Ibom), are also present in Ghana, Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea. Secret societies are numerous among the Ibibio settled west of the Cross River. Without a centralized government, their social organization is comparable to that of the neighboring Igbo. Ancestor worship is under the authority of the highest-ranking members of the Ekpo. The latter use masks such as the idiok, related to fallen spirits, and the mfon, representing saved souls. The statues and puppets are used by the ekon ...

Bozo Polychromy in the African Art of Mali
Bright Colors to Celebrate the Water Genius under the Sun, "Faro", with this Bozo zoomorphic puppet mask. The articulated fins, like the tail, are held by rubber strips, which are veiled by patterned fabric. Abrasions of use. The Bozo, mostly fishermen and farmers, live in the northern part of the Bambara country in the niger's inner delta and remain semi-nomadic today, moving their homes as seasonal floods occur. Mande-speaking people, they speak sorogama. Within their group, we can distinguish the Sorko or Sorogo, the Hain, and the Tie.Besides their remarkable masks, the Bozo and Bambara are renowned for their puppets of varied size and frequently articulated, exhibited during the puppet theatre Sogow bo which organizes itself on the ...

This childlike puppet-like head forms a reduction of the famous niombo , a funerary anthropomorphic "package", sometimes of giant size, representing the deceased among the Bwende. The niombo was buried at funerals during ancestor cults. It is made of a wickerwork frame, swaddled with textile, and was kept in the house of the chiefs. The Vili, the Lâri, the Sûndi, the Woyo, the Bembé, the Bwende, the Yombé and the Kôngo constituted the Kôngo group, led by the king ntotela. Their kingdom reached its peak in the 16th century with the ivory and copper trade and the slave trade. With the same beliefs and traditions, they produced a statuary with a codified gesture in relation to their vision of the world. The sculptures of the Bwendé were strongly inspired by those of the neighboring ...

Emblematic puppet intended for the dance kibe-kibe, or Ebokita (S.Diakonoff) this sculpture refers to the mythical ancestor Oso. The face bears scarified patterns, and the mouth reveals sharp teeth.
Polychrome satin patina. Cracks.
Formerly, the Kouyou were divided into two totemic clans: in the West that of the panther, and in the East that of the snake. A secret men's association, Ottoté, played an important political role in the appointment of chiefs. The initiation of young people ended with the revelation of the serpent god Ebongo represented in the form of a head. The Kibe-kibe or Kebekebe dances, which accompanied the ceremony, reactivated the successive stages of creation. The panther clan had a drum as their emblem. For its part, that of the snake had sculpted ...

This mannequin constitutes a reduced figure of the famous niombo, a funerary anthropomorphic "package" representing the deceased, sometimes of giant size, which was buried at funerals during ancestor cults. The doll is made of a wickerwork frame swaddled with textile. It was kept in the house of the chiefs. The Vili, the Lâri, the Sûndi, the Woyo, the Bembé, the Bwende, the Yombé and the Kôngo constituted the Kôngo group, led by the king ntotela. Their kingdom reached its peak in the 16th century with the ivory and copper trade and the slave trade. With the same beliefs and traditions, they produced a statuary with a codified gesture in relation to their vision of the world. The sculptures of the Bwendé were strongly inspired by those of the neighboring Beembe.

African art Gouro.
Monoxyle tribal sculpture made in dense wood, it takes the form of a thin feminine face, lacquered in a deep red, topped with two streaked shells accompanied by a volatile figure at the top. A lacquer of contrasting colours has given this African Gouro mask a smooth and shiny surface. Among the group of Mande from the south, in central Côte d'Ivoire, the Gouro have been using a family of African masks associated with the dance Zaouli since the 1950s. Like the Goli masks of the Baoulé, all Guro masks come in two zoomorphic masks followed by a third anthropomorph, which is considered the wife of the mask zamblé , the Gu . The Gu , whose function is apotropaic, represents a young woman with the criteria of beauty specific to Guro, especially facial scarifications and ...

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" Mani " is a diminutive meaning "little person" qualifying the African puppets with a human face used by the Bambara and Markha during didactic shows. This tradition of puppet theater is common to the multi-ethnic peoples living in the inner Niger Delta, including the Bozo, particularly in the Segou region where it is called "sogobo."
Residues of pink pigments on the face. Velvety patina of use, cracks of desiccation.

In Mali, the invention of the puppet is attributed to the geniuses of the bush who kidnapped Toboji Centa, a bozo fisherman. During his stay with the geniuses, the man became familiar with this unknown art. On his return he goes to the blacksmiths and teaches them how to make two kinds of puppets: miniature or enlarged animals and ...

Long African mask-puppet zoomorphic honoring Faro, genius of water. Abrasions. The fin joint is held together by rubber tabs.
The Bozo , mostly fishermen and farmers, live in the northern part of Bambara country in the interior delta of the Niger and remain today still semi-nomadic, moving their dwellings according to the seasonal floods. They speak the Mande language and Sorogama. Within their group, we distinguish the Sorko or Sorogo, the Hain, and the Tie. In addition to their remarkable masks, the Bozo and Bambara are renowned for their puppets of various sizes and frequently articulated, which are exhibited during the Sogow Bo puppet theater, which is organized on the initiative of young people in the villages, mainly in the Segou region, and which plays an educational ...

Polychromy of African Bozo art sculptures in Mali.
Aquatic inspiration for African Bozo art sculptures
Polychromy for this African puppet mask honoring Faro, genius of the water, and featuring a plump fish. Abrasions and desiccation crack. The fin joint is held together by rubber tabs.
The Bozo , mostly fishermen and farmers, live in the northern part of Bambara country in the interior delta of the Niger and remain today still semi-nomadic, moving their dwellings according to the seasonal floods. They speak the Mande language and Sorogama. Within their group, we distinguish the Sorko or Sorogo, the Hain, and the Tie. In addition to their remarkable masks, the Bozo and Bambara are renowned for their puppets of various sizes and frequently articulated, which ...

This puppet shows a seated woman with a mirror and a comb. With the braids of the ibibio girls' hair, she offers an articulated jaw operated by a wire on the back.
Discreet polychrome patina, granular.
The Ibibios are a people of West Africa, mainly present in south-eastern Nigeria (Akwa Ibom State), but also in Ghana, Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea. The secret societies are numerous among the Ibibio settled west of the Cross River. Without a centralized government, their social organization is comparable to that of the neighboring Igbo. Ancestor worship is under the authority of the highest ranking members of the Ekpo. The latter use masks such as the idiok , linked to fallen spirits, and the mfon , representing saved souls. Statues and puppets are used by the ekon ...

Bozo polychrome works in African art from Mali.
This ancient African mask-puppet honors Faro, genius of the water. The fins are held in place by a rubber tab. Vivid polychrome patina locally abraded. The Bozo, fishermen and farmers for the most part, live in the northern part of the Bambara country in the interior delta of the Niger and are still semi-nomadic today, moving their dwellings according to the seasonal floods. They speak the Mande language and Sorogama. Within their group, we distinguish the Sorko or Sorogo, the Hain, and the Tie. In addition to their remarkable traditional masks, the Bozo and Bambara are renowned for their puppets of various dimensions and frequently articulated, which are exhibited during the Sogow bo puppet theater, which is organized on the ...

Bozo polychromy of Sculptures of African Art in Mali
Blancheur enhanced in red for this ancient African zoomorphic mask honoring Faro, water genius. Abrasions of use. Slit on the dorsal ridge. The fin joint is held by rubber strips. The Bozo , mostly fishermen and farmers, live in the northern part of the Bambara country in the interior delta of Niger and remain semi-nomadic today, moving their homes according to seasonal floods. Mande-speaking people, they speak sorogama. Within their group, we can distinguish the Sorko or Sorogo, the Hain, and the Tie.Besides their remarkable masks, the Bozo and the Bambara are renowned for their puppets of varied size and frequently articulated, exhibited during the theater of puppets Sogow bo which organizes itself on the initiative of young ...

Swiss tribal art collection.
Polychromy Bozo of African art sculptures in Mali
White cream for this former African zoomorphic mask honoring Faro, water genius. Abrasions of use. Splendon on the ridge. The fin joint is concealed by a blue cotton textile. The Bozo, mostly fishermen and farmers, live in the northern part of the Bambara country in the niger's inner delta and remain semi-nomadic today, moving their homes as seasonal floods occur. Mande-speaking people, they speak sorogama. Within their group, we can distinguish the Sorko or Sorogo, the Hain, and the Tie.Besides their remarkable masks, the Bozo and Bambara are renowned for their puppets of varied size and frequently articulated, exhibited during the puppet theatre Sogow bo which organizes itself on the initiative of ...