Pair of Headdresses (Ci Wara Kunw)

Among the Bamana of central Mali, farming is an ancient and noble profession that is entwined with religious beliefs and ritual practices. The invention of agriculture is credited to a mythical hero named Ci Wara, literally “farming animal,” who was half human and half beast. A Bamana men’s association named for Ci Wara is dedicated to the practical aspects of farming and the social and ritual structures that support it. Among its activities, the association sponsors masquerade performances that take place as farmers work together in communal fields. The performances encourage the farmers as they labor, inspiring them to work even harder while also celebrating their agrarian heritage.
These Ci Wara headdresses combine the graceful head, neck, and horns of the antelope with the short legs, compact body, and tough, pointed nose (used to dig into hard, dry ground) of the pangolin. Viewed from the side, the figures’ silhouettes are enlivened by the articulation of positive and negative space. Such headdresses are performed in male and female pairs, though few pairs remain united in museum collections today, making this outstanding twosome all the more remarkable. The female carries a spry young male on her back, suggesting the fertile union of men and women and of earth, water, seeds, and sun.