Ciwara Bambara headdress in carved wood and basketry, Mali, Early 20th century

A very pleasing Ciwara crest, singularly small and accompanied by its original headdress, depicting a stylized antelope leaning on a pangolin. The antelope is ridden by a woman, and white horsehair has been added to the tips of the horns. The piece is carefully sculpted, with notches decorating the bodies of the antelope and the pangolin.
Rattan, plant fiber, cowries, wood Very fine velvety mat patina, Circa 1950

An animal called Ciwara is said to have taught the Bambara how to cultivate the land, and during agrarian ceremonies, they recall the myth through the stylized representation of an antelope whose name ci wara means “fawn of the earth”.
During these ritual ceremonies, the mask-cimier became the attribute of a costumed dancer who gave it life and speech.
Worn at the top of the skull and held in place by a sort of small wickerwork cap, these crests accompanied the dancers during rituals dedicated to agricultural work.
The masks would leap across the field to chase away evil spirits, revive seeds and restore vitality to crops.