Regions of Africa

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Antelope Mask

Bwa (Bobo)

Mali and Burkina Faso

wood, natural pigments

The Bwa and the Nuna like in the dry savannah of Mali
and Burkina Faso.   The people make animal masks to
enlist the power of the spirits who live in the forests,
bush country, and rivers surrounding their villages.
The masks make the spirits visible to them and put
them in touch with the people.  The masks depict spirits
associated with powerful animals such as buffalo,
antelopes, hawks, and fish.  The masks are owned by
families and clans who use the mask to protect them. The zig zag lines on the face of the Hawk signify the "path of ancestors", a moral path that is very difficult, but one every Nunuma (Bobo /Nuna) must follow to succeed in life.

The dancing with masks on market days and at funerals
and initiation ceremonies honors the spirits and
brings blessings.

See another Doyo Dancer and Bwa masks. Please come BACK (click on BACK in your browser window)

See Art of Burkina Faso: Christopher D. Roy

Equestrian Figure

Dogon, Mali

wood- size: 14"x20"

The equestrian figure has been an image in art of the Western Sudan for hundreds of years.  Terre Cotta figures have been found at the archeological site of d'Jenne. The horse is not native to the region--yet it is said to be a symbol of power.  To the Dogon, it represents the first animals off the ark from the heavens in the creation. It is said that the figure may represent Lebe, the ancestral figure who taught the first Dogon how to die. See this terracotta equestrian figure from, d'Jenne, Mali.
See photographs of a Dogon village of Mali.  Don't forget to come BACK (click "Back" in your browser) See a Dogon ancestor mask.  Learn about Dogon blacksmiths.  Go to this site to see more images of Dogon life.

Gold Weight

Baule, Cote d'Ivoire

bronze- approx. 4" x 3"

The Baule of Ivory coast and Akan of Ghana were masters at the lost wax method of casting animals and figures of bronze.  These figures were used to weigh the gold dust.  The figures illustrated proverbs. Today craftsmen of Ivory Coast make these animals in much the same way to sell in markets.

Find out more about Proverbs.

Tukula Box

Kuba, Zaire (Congo)

wood- approx. 12" x 5" x 2" h.

Boxes such as these were for storing  tukula--a reddish powder made from the bark of a tree. It was used for body and hair coloring.  Boxes as these were also used for rituals objects.  Some are in the shape of a mask. Tukula was considered a very expensive cosmetic and was treasured.  See how the designs of this box are repeated on a Kuba mask. Compare to the Ngady-Mwaash shown on this next page.  Moshwambwooy masks are the most important masks in the Kuba culture.  

Mancala Game Board
Asante, Ghana

wood- approx. 24" x 6" x 7" h.

Mancala is a game played throughout Africa.  While it  has many different names, it is played in much the same way.  It is a game of math and strategy as one tries to capture the most seeds in his or her mancala.

SEE AN INTERESTING MANCALA GAME BOARD
See some game boards from the British Museum
Link to African ethno-mathematics

Beaded Crown

Yoruba, Nigeria

cotton fabric, beads- approx. 24" h

This beaded crown is from the Yoruba people of Nigeria.  It would be part of a royal costume. Many crowns are brightly colored with added animals and birds. All of the patterns are created with tiny seed beads. The bird at the top is a sign of wisdom and appears on may crowns such as this one. The crowns were circled with a veil of beads that would partially hide the face.  A beaded vest and staff would be worn with the crown.

SEE ANOTHER YORUBA CROWN

Click here to see a male Chi  Wara

Bamana Chi Wara

Seguo Region, Mali

wood- size: 13"x33" h

The Chi wara appear in pairs for harvest festivals.  This example is the female, representing the earth.  the young antelope on her back represents mankind.  The male counterpart represents the sun.  They are worn tied to a basket on the head.   The body is hidden by a raffia fiber costume. The chi wara is the mythical hero who came from the skies to teach the people to farm.  the chi wara is part antelope and part man.  Many chi wara have elements of other animals. The chi wara is one of the 'societies" of the Bamana.

The Bamana have abstracted animals--exaggerating some of the characteristics of the animals. the surface is carved with texture and is polished smooth with palm oils. The graceful curving line of the neck is echoed in the lines of the male fawn.

The tall horns represent the millet that is harvested.

DO YOU THINK THIS IMAGE IS BEAUTIFUL?

Chi Wara Headdress

Bamana, Mali

wood- 13"h x 18"

This is the horizontal style of the chi wara from the Upper Niger region of Mali.  The  chi wara are worn in pairs at harvest ceremonies. This is a female chiwara. The curled tail symbolizes a chameleon- a symbol of longevity.

See a pair of horizontal Chi Wara from the National Museum of African Art.  The male has the double set of horns.

Bamana "Mud Cloth"

Mali

cotton woven strip cloth

Cloth is woven by men into strips, then sewn together.  Patterns are brushed onto the fabric with mud resist.  the fabric is then dyed with a dark river mud and rinsed to reveal the patterns.  The designs symbolize nature.  This section shows cricket legs (double zig-zags) and alligators (long rows of parallel lines).
Find out about Adinkra cloth of Africa.  
Learn more about symbols in Adinkra Cloth.
Learn about cloth from Mali.

Antelope Headdress

Kurumba, Burkina Faso

wood and natural pigments

The Kurumba call themselves Nioniosi and are grouped into several clans: the Sawadougou, the Oueremi, the Zale, the Tao and others. Their cultural masks are designed to establish a relationship between the elements of the myths and the cyclical event of funeral or agrarian rituals. Their sculptural antelope helmet masks- the adone are mostly shown at the ceremonies marking the end of mourning for a "land chief." The spirit of the deceased is captured by the adone and temporarily placed into the seat of the altar. The carvers and wearers of the mask come exclusively from the Sawadougou clans who are said to be the direct descendants of the founder of the Nioniosi society (Paudrat in Huet 1978, p. 102).

See more examples of Kurumba Headdresses

See some residential houses in Burkina Faso.

All images on this page are from the collection of Judith Decker.

SEE ADDITIONAL MASKS OF WEST AFRICA --GUGGENHEIM EXHIBIT

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INTERNET SITES ON AFRICAN ART

A feast for the eyes! African Art Museum - Online Collection collection of African tribal art featuring over 1,200 artifacts from 100 ethnic groups. Items on display include wooden and bronze statues, masks, religious, ritual and domestic objects, furniture and weapons. Learn about art, culture and history of each ethnic group. Start your museum tour by clicking on the tribe names featured in this lesson.

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