Antelope dance crest "tijwara" ("chiwara") · Mali, Bamana · ID: 3048628
not available anymore
Provenance
Spanish Collection, ValenciaSize
L: 63 cm
H: 51 cm
L: 24.8 inch
H: 20.1 inch
Description
wood, wickerwork, metal, base
The “tijwara” always appear in male/female pairs, but are danced exclusively by men. They are joined by young women, who fan the “tijwara” “to diffuse the power (“nyama”) that the beasts are believed to emit.
They accompany workers into communal fields, praising and challenging the young men. They also entertain at hoeing contests that recognize a champion farmer.
Comparing literature
Fagaly, William, Ancestors of Congo Square, New Orleans 2011, p. 58