African Arts Gallery

French Collection of African Art Sitting on a stool, this African statue belongs to a Gwan fertility cult associated with the Djo, or Do, widespread in central Mali. Long called "Queen", this type of statue participated every seven years in ceremonies during which they were presented to childless women. The latter washed the sculptures and then anointed them with shea butter.
Ritual grainy patina, desiccation cracks. The Bambara of central and southern Mali belong to the large Mande group, like the Soninke and the Malinke. They believe in the existence of a creator god generically called Ngala who maintains the order of the universe. His existence coexists with another androgynous god called Faro, who gave all the qualities to men and who makes the fruits of the earth grow. Large masked festivals conclude the initiation rites of the dyo association and the gwan ritual of the Bambara in the south of the Bambara country.