Headdress (Ciwarakun)

ClassificationsClothing and Adornments-head ornaments-headdresses

Culture Bamana

Date20th Century

Made AtMali, Africa

MediumWood and metal

Dimensions11 × 17 5/8 × 3 in. (27.9 × 44.8 × 7.6 cm)

Credit LineGift of Anne and Long Shung Shih

Object number2018.13.28

DescriptionThis headdress from the Bamana culture of Western Mali features Ciwara, the antelope that taught the Bamana agriculture. Male and female forms of this headdress are worn at end-of-year festivals by the most successful farmers of the season. Together, the binary figures represent the continuation of life, independently each represents the respective symbols of male and female in Bamana culture, such as the sun and the earth. Based on the lack of male genitalia this headdress is likely female. Ciwarakun headdresses can be further distinguished by having vertical, horizontal, or highly abstracted aesthetics. The horizontal orientation of the head indicates that it was made by the western or southern Bamana.

On View

Not on view

Collections