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Bamana Bambara OLD Phallic Hobby Horse African Art Mali
An Exquisite OLD Bamana KOREDUGASO Ritual Buffoon's Phallic Hobby Horse Antique African Art - Kore Society Tribal Sculpture - Mali
Collected from the: Bamana Bambara peoples of the Koulikoro region of Mali, West Africa Material: Carved wood, Shea oil Period: Early 20th century Dimensions: 13" length, 6" width, 7.5" depth; weight is 1.00 pounds or 19" height, 2.10 pounds combined Condition: Exceptional. This delicately carved museum quality horse hails from a prestigious Houston collection, superior signs of age and wear from authentic tribal use and ritual cleansing, minute age cracks and expertly executed early indigenous repair at base of right ear test stable, wear-exposed wood displays significant patination. Exhibits the anticipated ever-so-slightly oily surface condition of the ritual Shea oil cleansing suggestive of a long life of frequent handling and repeated performance wear. Clearly a highly esteemed early Koredugaso, make special note of the superior surface condition, serene facial expression, beautifully carved halter and bridle, and dramatic phallic design so perfect for a ritual buffoon's parodies - one can almost hear the tribal audience roar with laughter when the buffoon rider appeared with this horse's head protruding out from between his legs - an absolutely stunning example of early Bamana Kore Society art !
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Bamana Bambara KOREDUGASO Hobby Horses of the Koredubaw or Korejugaw Ritual Buffoons The ritual buffoons, Koredubaw or Korejugaw, comprised yet another separate class, often emancipated in an autonomous society which intervened during a host of occasions in village social life. Using parodies to make fun of all figures of knowledge and power, the hunters and warriors machine-gunning and sword-handling were mimed with wooden toys. The sofaw horse warriors were portrayed with Koredugaso or wooden hobby horses which the ritual buffoons mounted and rode in their pantomimes. Koredugaso heads represented Timba the anteater and sported long ears pierced for the attachment of adornments. Because the ritual buffoons incarnated wisdom, they held the right to satirize powerful people no other tribal member would dare insult.
Information on the Bamana Bambara KORE Initiation Society The Kore society initiation insured the development of male identity. Where the Kore existed, every male had to be symbolically killed at the Kore, or be considered as belonging to the world of the women and non-circumcised boys. For that reason, the Kore and Kore initiation still exist in predominantly Muslim villages, but it is said to no longer be a Jo; masks, boliw and sacrifices have disappeared, at least officially. Every seven years an age-set of teenagers was "killed at the Kore." As they resuscitated under an adult identity, they had to renounce the privileges of childhood and prove their quality of ce fari (brave man). Before being allowed to return to the village as grown-ups, they lived for a time in the bush under the aegis of three elders where the neophytes were subjected to physical hardships and humiliations, and learned about herbal medicine, sexuality, the cycle of life, and their obligations towards the elders and their ancestors. They never protested, for their fervent wish was to become adult: they knew they would one day become elders themselves and wanted to prove their bravery. After the Kore initiation, boys were indeed considered men who could then choose between other initiation societies to increase their power. The most spectacular Kore ritual occured at the funerals of a well renowned members of the society. The funerals of the Dead of Kore were the most prestigious ceremonies, parts of which were forbidden to non-initiates. During such funerals, vigorous men (kamalen-baw) who claimed knowledge of remedies to prevent getting burnt, dueled with whips or fought with huge torches. The only woman allowed to be part of the Kore society was known as the giver of water and must have born twins. It was she who took charge of managing a few cooked meals for the new Kore dead during their seclusion period. Many present day Bamana villages have solemnly prohibited the Kore after the death of several initiates during their trials.
Bamana Bambara Tribal History "The 2,500,000 Bamana people, also called Bambara, form the largest ethnic group within Mali and occupy the central part of the country, in an area of the savannah. They live principally from agriculture, with some subsidiary cattle rearing in the northern part of their territory. The Bambara people are predominantly animists, although recently the Muslim faith has been spreading among them. The Bambara kingdom was founded in the 17th century and reached its pinnacle between 1760 and 1787 during the reign of N'golo Diarra. N'golo Diarra is credited with conquering the Peul people and in turn claimed the cities of Djenne and Timbuktu. However, during the 19th century, the kingdom began to decline and ultimately fell to the French when they arrived in 1892. For the most part, Bambara society is structured around six male societies, known as the Dyow. The stylistic variations in Bambara art are extreme - sculptures, masks, and headdresses display either stylized or realistic features, and either weathered or encrusted patinas. Until quite recently, the function of Bambara pieces was shrouded in mystery, but in the last twenty years field studies have revealed that certain types of figures and headdresses were associated with a number of the societies that structure Bamana life," according to Bacquart. "Among the Bamana and Maninka, initiation societies, called jow, were and sometimes still are of profound social and political significance. Some of them like the Ntomo, Kore, or their local equivalents, impose rites of passage: in the villages where they exist, every boy has to accomplish their rituals in order to accede to adulthood. Other socities such as the Komo, the Nama and the Ci-wara are "power associations" in which men participate in order to gain power and protect their dependents." For many of those interested in the African art, the Bamana have come to be seen as a classic example of "traditional" Sudanic civilization, a conservative inward-looking society of farmers and artists largely unaffected by the forces which shape Malian history. A most remarkable society of people living in the middle Niger Valley that somehow resisted the full thrust of Islamic religious renewal, the holy wars of the nineteenth century, and subsequent French imperialism and colonization - they appear almost heroic in surviving those raging events while remaining faithful to an artistic tradition based upon ancient precepts and values. We highly recommended reading Bamana: The Art of Existence in Mali (Colleyn) and Bamana Figurative Sculpture (Ezra) for an exceptionally well detailed account of this fascinating culture.
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Please contact us immediately if ~ for any reason ~ you are not pleased with your selection. We will gladly refund the purchase price of any item returned in its original condition within 14 days of dated delivery. Our commitment to 5 Star customer service and satisfaction ensures that YOUR satisfaction is Unconditionally Guaranteed ~ NO questions asked!
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We're delighted to combine shipments and reduce your costs, simply email your Zip/Postal Code PRIOR to making payment. All major credit cards and PayPal are gladly accepted. Payment is expected within 7 days of your purchase. In consideration of discounts given, we respectfully request immediate payment on all Best Offers unless arrangements are made prior to acceptance. Please contact us directly if other payment arrangements are necessary - we're always happy to help!
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