Mali Bambara Mask

Bambara mask from Mali; metal affixed to wood with hair accents; measures approximately 25" tall; please refer to photographs for condition. The Bambara or Bamana are found in Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea and Senegal. They are descended from the Mande super-ethnic group through the Mandinka people who were the founders of the Mali Empire. The peak of the Bambara Empire appeared in the mid 18th century and since then they have made the biggest Mande group in Mali. Even though most Bambara practice Islam today, they used to be ancestor worshippers and most of their art forms were dedicated to religious rites. The Bambara society was organized into fraternities and sororities known as Tons. Apart from the Tons divided along gender lines, there are other societies providing social structure according to age and vocation. The Bambara are an agrarian people, subsisting on the Savannah. Farming their land can be pretty difficult and to appeal to higher powers, their art features strong references to animals that are believed to promote farming and work ethics.