Bambara headdress mask from the tyi wara society
The fifth initiatic Bambara society is called "tyi wara", and teaches the relations between men and cosmos by means of agriculture.
The masks of the tyi wara society represent masculine and feminine antelopes. They are always danced together during ceremonies of sowing and harvesting. They symbolize the force and wisdom that the agriculturist needs to obtain foods from the earth.
During the dance, the tyi wara is placed on the head of the dancer with the help of a cap made with vegetal fibers. This cap holds the rafia that covers all his body.
There are many different kinds of tyi waras. These that I offer you you here, are reproductions of the most known. They have been carved by artisans from southern Mali with wood, metal sheets or cauris, leather and hair.
nº 1 (sold) |
nº 2: 50 euros |
nº 3 (sold) |
nº 4: 50 euros |
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100 cm high male tyi wara with metal. |
100 cm high female tyi wara with metal. |
100 cm high male tyi wara with cauris. |
100 cm high female tyi wara with cauris. |
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