Bamana Antelope Chi Wara Headcrest Mali 21.5”Hx7” Antique African Tribal Art

Description: Bamana Antelope Chi Wara Headcrest Mali 21.5”Hx7” W” Antique African Tribal Art Please SEE ALL PICTURES - It does have some scrapes in the wood and shows it’s age. The Bamana people, sometimes called Bambara, are one of the largest ethnic groups in Mali. They have six major secret societies of different levels of prestige that conduct adult initiation rituals. Initiates are taught survival skills, social customs, and religious principles. The Chi Wara Society dances using crest masks only and teaches social values and agricultural techniques. The Chi Wara itself typically takes the form of a roan antelope crossed with a human. The character itself is supposed to represent a culture hero born of the sky goddess (Mousso Koroni) and an earth god in the shape of a cobra. The Chi Wara taught the Bamana to sow and harvest crops. There are four major kinds of Chi Wara: the Bougouni Southern; the Segu Northern; the Bamako Northern; and the Sikasso. This specific mask represents the third style of Chi Wara, the Bamako from the northern region, and depicts a male. The Chi Wara is danced in male and female pairs, with each wearing a full suit of raffia fiber and the crest mounted on a basket (as here) that sits atop the dancer’s head. The male dancer leads, leaping like an antelope and scratching the ground with a staff to illustrate the teaching of agriculture. The female follows behind and fans the male to spread his powers to the village. Visit my store for more African Tribal Art 3 business days shipping and handling

Price: 210 USD

Location: Bogart, Georgia

End Time: 2024-09-22T18:01:22.000Z

Shipping Cost: N/A USD