Headdress (chi wara)
Unknown Artist
early to mid-1900s
Medium
Wood, cowrie shells, glass beads, possibly aluminum, iron alloy, upholstery studs, and natural fibers
Dimensions
44.5 × 66 cm
Classification
Mask
Department
African Art
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
Gift of Mrs. Ralph M. Coe in memory of Ralph M. Coe
Accession Number
1965.325
About this artwork
Chi wara—a mythical “farming beast”—was said to teach farming to the Bamana people. Carved patterns cover this female chi wara’s body, highlighting its muscles and emphasizing that it is no earthly animal, but rather an agricultural spirit that combines human, antelope, and anteater elements. This example wears earrings and a nose ring of imported metals and beads. Its carver—a blacksmith—used a naturalistic style common south of the city of Bamako. Accompanied by women’s songs, male performers ...