African Arts Gallery

Belgian African art collection.
Thick old patina for this stylized animal figure of the Bambara, made of black iron. The mammal is a symbol of fertility and vigor. Grainy texture, ochre patina.
Established in central and southern Mali, in a savannah area, the Bambara, "Bamana" or "unbelievers", as the Muslims have called them, belong to the large Mande group, along with the Soninke and the Malinke. Mostly farmers, but also breeders, they make up the largest ethnic group in Mali. The groups of Bambara artisans nyamakala , more specifically the blacksmiths named numu , are in charge of sculpting ritual objects, endowed with the nyama , occult energy. Using fire and magical objects, the role of healer and diviner is also assigned to them.
Their powers are ...

This African mask from the ntomo, an initiatory society of uncircumcised youth prevalent in the Niger River region, appears primarily during the harvest season. The abstract crest, atypical, makes this mask special. Thick patina of use, matt, locally grainy. Abrasions. Established in central and southern Mali, in a savannah zone, the Bambara, "Bamana" or "unbelievers" as the Muslims have called them, belong to the large Mande group, along with the Soninke and the Malinke. Mostly farmers, but also breeders, they make up the largest ethnic group in Mali. Animists, they believe in the existence of a god that requires the gestation of a child. Ngala maintains the order of the universe. His existence coexists with another androgynous god called Faro, who gave all qualities to men and who ...

This African mask from the ntomo, an initiatory society of uncircumcised youth prevalent in the Niger River region, is considered a male mask, in view of its six horns.
Most of these masks are coated with charcoal powder, which is the case here. This mask appears mainly during the harvest season. This piece is particularly notable for its animal crest associated with the mythical antelope ci wara . Dark grainy patina.
Abrasions and cracks of desiccation.
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, along with the Soninke and the Malinke. Mostly farmers, but also breeders, they make up the largest ethnic group in Mali. Animists, they ...

Equipped with a spherical front, this African mask Bambara extends with a toothed bifid beak. The eyes, framed by pastilles representing ears, are carved in bas-relief while a human nose, straight, stands out. Linear, parallel patterns are characteristic of the Bambara. Matte patina, desiccation cracks and erosions.

Height on plinth: 77 cm.
We find the Bambara , Bamana , in central and southern Mali. This name means "unbeliever" and was given to them by Muslims. They belong to the great Mande group, like the Soninke and the Malinke. Animists, they also believe in the existence of a creator god generically called Ngala, who has 266 sacred attributes.
His existence coexists with another androgynous god called Faro, master of the Word, who gave all the ...

Les Ti-wara dans l'art africain. Ce serait un animal - génie appelé Ciwara qui aurait appris aux Bambara à cultiver la terre. Ces derniers se remémorent le mythe à travers la représentation souvent stylisée d'une antilope hippotrague, dont l'appellation ci wara signifie "fauve de la terre. Patine mate veloutée, abrasions, petits accidents, érosion de la base.
Portés au sommet du crâne et maintenus en place par une sorte de petit panier, ces cimiers accompagnaient les danseurs au cours des rituels du tòn , association dédiée aux travaux agricoles. Les masques parcouraient le champ en bondissant afin de chasser de celui-ci les nyama, effluves maléfiques, et de détecter tout danger, ou de débusquer les génies malfaisants pouvant ravir l'âme des plantes cultivées ainsi que la ...

Traditional sculpture linked to the ci wara cult.
This symbolizes an animal-genius called Ciwara who is said to have taught the Bambara to cultivate the land. The Bamana remember the myth through the stylized representation of a hippotrague antelope, whose name ci wara means "false of the earth". The forms of these crests vary, however, across Mali from region to region. Dull patina. Abrasions and slight missing.
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 would leap around the field in order to chase away the nyama, evil effluvia, from it and to detect any danger, or to flush out evil genies that could take away ...

This granary shutter is made up of two panels assembled by large metal staples, and is sculpted with bas-relief motifs referring to the agrarian world and its symbols. Indeed, it would be an animal - genius called Ciwara who would have taught the Bambara to cultivate the land. The latter recall the myth through the stylized representation of a hippotrague antelope, whose name ci wara means "false of the earth". Worn on top of the skull and held in place by a kind of small basket, these crests accompanied the dancers during the rituals of the tòn , an association dedicated to agricultural work. The masks would leap around the field to chase away the nyama, evil effluvia, and to detect any danger, or to flush out the evil genies that could take away the souls of the cultivated plants ...

African art and masks of initiation ceremonies
It is during the initiation ceremonies of young boys relating to the Ntomo society and shared with their Malinke neighbors, that the Bambara dance these masks.
The long, busted nose, which the Bambara favor in their tribal statuary, is associated with sociability and clan cohesion. In front of the four horns encrusted with cowries stands a sculpture in the round representing a woman.
Dark brown patina, oiled and matt. The groups of Bambara artisans nyamakala , more specifically the blacksmiths named numu , are in charge of carving ritual objects, endowed with the nyama , occult energy. Using fire and magical objects, the role of healer and diviner is also attributed to them. Their powers are transmitted to their ...

Sculpture named "little favorite", Nyeleni in Bambara, represented frontally, her narrow bust widening toward the curved volume of the hips bears "shell" breasts.
The hands that extend the long arms rest on the knees. The very stylized face is framed by "horseshoe" ears.
Fine cracks of desiccation. Semi-matt oiled patina. The Bambara of central and southern Mali belong to the large Mande group, like the Soninke and 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. Large masked festivals close the initiation rites of the dyo association and the ritual of the gwan of the Bambara in southern Bambara country. Spread over a period ...

The mask presented consists of a basketry and textile hat, bordered by long raffia bangs, surmounted by a stylized sculpture of a female antelope and her young. A very fine piece, engraved with harmoniously distributed chevrons and grooves. The braided raffia, extended by long blond locks, evokes a feminine hair. It would be an animal - genius called Ciwara who would have taught the Bambara to cultivate the land. The latter recall the myth through the stylized representation of a hippotrague antelope, whose name ci wara means "fauve of the earth". The Bamara, Bamana, of central and southern Mali belong to the large Mande group, like the Soninke and Malinke. Animists, they believe in the existence of a creator god generically called Ngala who maintains the order of the universe. His ...

Sculpture named "little favorite," Nyeleni in Bambara, carved in angular volumes, depicting a woman standing on flat, half-bent legs rising from a circular block. Her large hands rest on her hips. Her very graphic head is highlighted by a long crest. Misses on one of the ears. Velvety black matte patina.
The Bambara of central and southern Mali belong to the large Mande group, like the Soninke and 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. Large masked festivals close the initiation rites of the dyo association and the ritual of the gwan of the Bambara in southern Bambara country. Spread over a period of seven years as far ...

Smaller version of the sculpture known as the "little favorite," Nyeleni in Bambara, depicted standing, hands extending long arms resting on thighs. The feet, oversized, carry a slender body outlined with multicolored necklaces.br> Desiccation cracks, crazing. Patina encrusted with ritual anointing.
The Bambara of central and southern Mali belong to the large Mande group, like the Soninke and 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. Large masked festivals close the initiation rites of the dyo association and the ritual of the gwan of the Bambara in southern Bambara country. Spread over a period of seven years as far as men ...

The fifth initiatory society Bambara, Bamana, is called tyiwara (ci, cultivate, wara, fauve) and is still practiced nowadays in some villages. These crest masks evoking the antelope, oryx or daged hippotrague depending on the case, are declined vertically and horizontally. Presenting themselves to the public in pairs, male and female, the wearers of the masks adopt a symbolic choreography related to agriculture. Belonging to the regional type Goso kun ,emanating from the region of Bamako, this horizontal crest is strewn with triangular incisions, patterns and hatchings evoking the animal's coat. Its tapered ears are perforated at regular intervals. Fatty black-brown patina, abrasions and lacks on one of the ears.
Carried on the top of the skull and held in place by a ...

Ex French tribal art collection.
Bambara in African art. Composite abstract variant of Ci Wara, this tribal art sculpture evoking the antelope is developed into a zoomorphic body with two horizontally extended heads of horns, probably referring to a reference to twinning in the creation of the Bambara world. Underlined with rhombic motifs and parallel incisions, the object was restored in situ using metal staples and vegetable fibers. The matt oily patina is eroded in many places, revealing a clear, desiccated wood. Rectangular metal base. Carried at the top of the skull and held in place by a kind of little basket, these tyiwara masks, more generally crest, accompanied the dancers during the rituals of tòn, an association dedicated to agrarian cults. The masks roamed the field ...

Sculpture named "little favorite", Nyeleni in Bambara, represented frontally, palms forward, breasts in "obus" on a narrow bust widening towards a wide prominent buttocks. The half-flexed legs are proportionally reduced. The face is covered with a streaked crest whose side mats frame the ears of the "en horseshoe. The piece, streaked with notches and parallel grooves, features a light brown matte patina with powdery beige ocré inlays.
Desication cracks. The Bambara of central and southern Mali belong to the large Mande group, such as the Soninke and 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 grows ...

Ex private French collection of African art.

This Bambara dignitary figure is distinguished by its high stature and the solemnity of its expression. Her eyelids are lowered, adding an enigmatic character, and the stylization of her features is reminiscent of her Dogon neighbors. The naked person sits proudly on a stool, a weapon in each hand. He wears an ovoid headdress on his head. Two braids hang from the back of the head. The dark patina has beautiful traces of desiccation and a nice aging. The Bambara are found in central and southern Mali. This name means unbeliever and was given to them by the Muslims. They belong to the large Mande group, like Soninke and Malinke. They believe in the existence of a creator god generically called Ngala, which has 266 sacred attributes. ...

Figurative version of Ti-wara, Ci wara, in African art. It would be an animal - genius called Ciwara who would have taught the Bambara to cultivate the land. The latter recall the myth through the stylized representation of a hippotrague antelope, whose name ci wara means "wilderness of the earth". The piece is enhanced with fine decorative motifs raised in copper.
Matt brown patina, ochre residue.
The Bambara, Bamana, of central and southern Mali belong to the large Mande group, like the Soninke and Malinke. Animists, 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 ...

Ex-collection African art from Belgium.
Work having participated in numerous exhibitions in the United States. Belonging to the regional Goso kun type, emanating from the Bamako region, this horizontal crest is studded with triangular incisions, patterns and crosshatching evoking the animal's coat. Its tapered ears are perforated at regular intervals. Dark matte patina.
Worn at the 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 would leap across the field to chase away the nyama, evil effluvia, and to detect any danger, or to flush out the evil genies that could steal the soul of the cultivated plants as well as the vital force of ...

Ex-collection French African art.
This variant of the African sculpture Ci Wara of the Bambara, Bamana, forms a decorative element prized by collectors. Its dimension here is larger than usual. It would rather be in this case a piece intended for an altar. Striations engraved on the surface show the peeling, and a copper loop adorns an ear. Matt patina. Sculpted by the blacksmith numu, also playing the role of diviner and healer, this vertical, stylized crest is represented here with successive arches representing the mane of a male antelope. It would be an animal - genie called Ciwara who would have taught the Bambara to cultivate the land. The Bambara remember the myth through the stylized representation of a hippotrague antelope, whose name ci wara means "earth tiger". Worn ...

The Ti-wara, Ci wara, in African art.
It would be an animal - genius called Ciwara who would have taught the Bambaras to cultivate the land. They remember the myth through the stylized representation of a hippotrague antelope, whose name ci wara means " fawn of the earth". Decorated on the head and flanks with metal veneers engraved with repoussé, the ears and muzzle are further embellished with cotton tassels, pearls and cowrie shells. The tips of the horns are also wrapped in leather and lined with horsehair. Successive arches show the wide neck bearing a mane. The characteristics make it possible to attribute it to the stylistic canons of the Segou region. Velvety matte patina.br /> Carried on the top of the skull and held in place by a kind of small basket, these crest ...

Deployed in an imposing format, this sculpture linked to the cult ci wara symbolizes an animal - genius called Ciwara who would have taught the Bambara to cultivate the land. The latter recall the myth through the stylized representation of a hipporague antelope, whose name ci wara signifies of the earth. The shapes of these cimiers, however, vary from region to region across Mali. This sculpture was probably intended for an altar. Dark skate, mate. Abrasions and cracks.
Ported to the top of the skull and held in place by a sort of small basket, these cimiers accompanied the dancers during the rituals of the tion , an association dedicated to agricultural work. The masks bound the field as they leaped to drive out nyama, evil scents, and to detect any danger, or to flush out evil ...