Cimier Tywara / Chi wara - Bambara - Mali

Mali Bambara Wood Height: 230mm Width: 180mm Length: 510mm Weight: 700g This piece is a Chi Wara crest (often spelled Tyi Wara or Ci Wara) of the Bambara (or Bamanan) people of Mali. It is a stylistic variant representing a quadruped (often associated with the oryx or a composite animal blending antelope and the pangolin/scaly anteater, depending on the region of Mali), mounted on its original fabric-woven (kasa) support. Here is the detailed analysis of its origin, use and symbolic function: 1. Origin and Foundational Myth Among the Bambara, the Chi Wara embodies a mythic figure half-man, half-animal: • The farming myth: According to tradition, Chi Wara is the civilizing hero half-man, half-antelope who taught humans farming by teaching them to work the soil with a hoe (daba). • Etymology: The term Chi Wara literally means “the falcon (or the worker) of the earth” (ci = work, wara = wild animal/beast). 2. Use and Ritual Contexts • The farming societies (Somo or associations of ploughmen): The crests are not isolated objects; they are mounted on a wicker or fabric cap (as seen on the base of your piece with the traditional fabric) and worn by the best dancers of the community. • The ploughing competitions (Cori): Chi Wara dances take place outdoors in the fields, during weeding rituals and seasonal agricultural work. The dancers, accompanied by musicians and singers, perform paired choreographies (the male and the female) imitating the graceful leaps of the antelope to stimulate the vitality of the earth and encourage young farmers to redouble their efforts. 3. Symbolic and Formal Function • The union of Earth and Sky (or water and fire): • The long majestic horns projecting backward symbolize the sun’s passage or the pursuit of height and rain. • The horizontal position of the animal’s body and its anchored legs recall the nurturing earth. • Fertility and prosperity: This abstract and pared-down art honors the fertility of the land as much as that of the people. The loops, rings and the sculpture’s dynamics convey the vital energy (nyama) needed to obtain good millet harvests and ensure the village’s survival. The objects are shipped with a tracking number. Delivery in France by Chronopost in 1 to 2 days. Delivery within the European Union by Chronopost International in 3 to 5 days. Delivery by Colissimo International for the rest of Europe and for the entire World. We speak english.

Estimate:£125.46

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