Headdress (Ciwarakun)

ClassificationsClothing and Adornments-head ornaments-headdresses

Culture Bamana

Date20th Century

Made AtMali, Africa

MediumWood

Dimensions9 × 21 1/2 × 3 1/2 in. (22.9 × 54.6 × 8.9 cm)

Credit LineGift of Anne and Long Shung Shih

Object number2019.2.4

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 female genitalia and lack of a third horn this headdress is 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 Northern Bamana.

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