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Bamana Bambara Merekun Puppet Old African Carving Mali
An Old Bamana Bambara MEREKUN Female Puppet Figure Antique African Art - Tribal Sculpture - Mali
Collected from the: Bamana Bambara peoples from the Koulikoro region of Mali, West Africa Material: Carved wood, libation Period: Early 20th century Dimensions: 13" height, 5" width, 4" depth; weight is 1.5 pounds Condition: Excellent. From a private Houston collection, exquisite signs of age with wear from authentic tribal use and handling, exposed wood displays significant patination. Traditional application of ground millet libation after palm oil cleaning presents as a cloudy or hazed patina over the deep oil rubbed natural wood tones to create an almost weathered like appearance. This may be removed by gentle buffing with a dry cloth or enjoyed in situ at your discretion. Make special note of the intricate crocodile skin patterning on the nose, surface condition and burnished skin oil patina highlights along high points indicative of a cherished, frequently performed character.
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Information on the Bamana Bambara Sogo bo Puppet Masquerade Traditions and Use "Sogo bo, a puppet masquerade drama, performed in many Bamana communities within the Segou region of south central Mali is organized under the auspices of the kamalen ton, the village youth association. Defined as nyenaje, entertainment and tulon, play, the Sogo bo masquerade has a regional identity rather than being associated with any single ethnic group as Sogo bo originated with the Bozo fisherman rather than with the Bamana, who adopted the masquerade by the late nineteenth century. Oral histories indicate that Bamana rod puppets emerged sometime in the second half of the 19th century with the Numu, Bamana blacksmiths, being credited for creating the rod puppets in Sogo bo theaters throughout the past century. Mere comes from the name or a legendary female figure, kun means head. Maani puppets, which are usually small, form part of the superstructure of a theatrical armature. The puppets reflect their times: today we find, in addition to the eternal roles (the miser, sexually promiscuous characters, etc.) puppets that may represent Bob Marley, political figures and even anthropologists. Organized into a series of short, five to ten minute masquerades that feature a single, dramatic character and punctuated by intervals of song and dance – well over twenty masquerades might be played in one event. Sogo bo performances are important sites for the exploration of the moral universe, often mediated by wit and humor to examine the nature of their world and lived experiences. For well over a century the theater has constituted an avenue through which young Bamana men and women have gained access to knowledge, instruction, and experience in contemplating and actualizing critical beliefs and values within their communities." See Bamana: The Art of Existence in Mali for an entire chapter of history on this fascinating form.
Bambara Bamana 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. See Bamana: The Art of Existence in Mali for an exceptionally well detailed account of this 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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