The Bambara in the central savanna of Mali (just like their neighbours, the Malinke and Bozo tribes) have a varied, traditional ‘theater’, called ‘Sogo bo’, performed by the village youth with rod puppets. ‘Clothed’ rod puppets – both small and, sometimes, of very large size – are used in the villages, accompanied by music bands and singers, in order to enact moralising myths and fairy-tales, but also to tell stories with references to current events. For this purpose, marionettes are manufactured in human and animal forms, as well as in the guise of imaginary beings and spirits. The present, relatively large, female Bambara puppet has two all-seeing heads looking in diametrically opposed directions (‘Janus head’). Carved from hard, brown wood in the typical Bambara style: with elongated faces, scarification marks on the forehead and cheeks, and with the characteristic hairstyle of Bambara women, consisting of a braid over the forehead and two lateral, longer plaits. With deep-set, small, round eyes, a long, straight nose and a small mouth. The ears and both noses are decorated with small chains of polychrome glass pearls, in the pierced forehead plaits red-dyed cotton threads are bound into the shape of tassels.
A special feature of the present item is that the two faces of the ‘Janus head’ were worked separately. As a result, this puppet has four lateral plaits, instead of the usual two. This is rare!
A culturally and artistically interesting piece with noticeable usage patina (especially on the long neck!). Only a minor fracture to one of the four plaits, otherwise in perfect condition.
First half of the 20th century; H: 60.5 cm. (ME)

Provenance: Maurice Nicaud Collection, Paris; Austrian Private Collection.

Lit.: 'Un art de la fete au Mali' by Amaelle Favreau, fig. 81, 139, 163; 'Bamana. Afrikanische Kunst aus Mali' by J.-P. Colleyn, catalogue Muesum Rietberg Zurich, fig. 68.