A number of functions have been attributed to these figures (Cornet 1971:202-207); the most carefully carved are portraits of specific ancestors. Figures which are sometimes less finished represent spirits (vidye) associated with natural forces...
This delicate dance crest was carved in the eastern Bamana area near the city of Segou on the Niger River. It represents the female oryx antalope (Oryx beisa) with her young carried on her back as human mothers carry their children. Such objects...
Members of the men¹s kore society, the most senior of six Bambara dyo or initiation societies, wear animal masks with a simple cloth costume, consisting of little more than the owner¹s own clothes. The kore masks appear each year at the end...
Wooden locks of this type, Moslem in origin, are attached to the doors of Bamana family dwellings and granaries so that the horizontal bar is free to slide back and forth to intersect a hole in the doorjamb. When moved into a closed position,...
This segouni kun, like CMS no. 329, is carved int he relatively abstract style of the Southern Bambara region near Bougouni. The antelope horns of the crest have been combined with the head and body of an anteater, symbol of hardiness and strength...
This Songye mask, of the type called kifwebe, represents one of two important mask styles in southeastern Zaire (Songye, Luba) in which parallel stripes in alternating colors are superimposed over the characteristic sculptural forms of each of the...
Caryatid stools are rare among the Bambara, especially stools of such impressive quality. The angular facial features and conical breasts are typical of the Bambara style. -- Professor Christopher Roy, School of Art and Art History, University...
This spectacular Bamana figure of a woman stands proudly erect- great flipper-like hands held palms forward. Large, conical breasts jut from the shoulders. The torso is long and cylindrical, with a slightly swollen abdomen. The feet are large to...
The Bamana in the west near Bamako produce dance crests which are more naturalistic than those from Bougouni and the east, especially in terms of proportions. The head and the horns of these segouni kun are oriented horizontally, parallel to the...
Figures like this are made by the Bamana for use by young male initiates in the Jo society. They are called nyeleni, and are carried from village to village by the initiates to show off their newly-achieved status. Because blacksmiths are most...