Tribal Art

Ex-collection of French African tribal art.
It is through different secret societies that Bambara initiates acquire their knowledge, including that of Koré, targeting elders and during which zoomorphic masks are used. The society of Koré is divided into eight classes of initiates, the sixth of which is that of hyenas, or surukuw.

Mask bearing traces of use , tooth implantation orifices.
Velvety matte patina, erosions.

Established in central and southern Mali, in a savannah area, the Bambara, "Bamana" or "unbelievers", as the Muslims called them, belong to the large Mande group, with the Soninke and the Malinke. Groups of Bambara nyamakala artisans, more specifically blacksmiths called numu, are responsible for carving ritual objects, endowed with nyama , occult energy. Using fire and magical objects, they are also assigned the role of healer and soothsayer.
Ref. : “Animal masks from black Africa” G.Massa and C. Dewé, ed. Sepia.