Ciwara Bamana crest mask

French Lelys collection.
According to legend, a mythical being, an animal genius named Ciwara, taught the Bambara the art of cultivating the land. This myth is recalled by the stylized representation of a hippotrague antelope, also called ci wara, meaning "fawn of the earth". These crests were worn on top of the skull, held in place by a small basket, and accompanied the dancers during the rituals of the tòn, an association dedicated to agricultural work. As they roamed the fields, the masks' role was to chase away nyama (malefic energies), to detect any danger, or to spot evil genies likely to steal the soul of cultivated plants and the vital force of their seeds.
The Bambara, or "Bamana", referred to as "unbelievers" by Muslims, live in central and southern Mali. They belong to the large Mandingue ethnic group, alongside the Soninké and Malinké. Animists, they believe in the existence of a creator god, Ngala, who possesses 266 sacred attributes, one for each day of the 9 lunar months of a child's gestation. Ngala watches over the order of the universe, coexisting with another androgynous god, Faro, who endowed men with all their qualities and made the fruits of the earth grow.
Plinth piece.