The Ashley Gibson Barnett Museum of Art
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The Ashley Gibson Barnett Museum of Art

Mali

The Ashley Gibson Barnett Museum of Art
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Featured
Chiwara
Oct 20, 2021
Chiwara
Oct 20, 2021

The Chiwara, a creation of the Bambara people of West Africa, is the crowning piece of a crest mask worn by performers in a traditional dance ceremony that celebrates successful farming. It is named for Chi Wara, a divine figure in Bambara culture who taught humans to farm and cultivate land. Bambara philosophy correlates divine and mythical entities to animals. Accordingly, the Chiwara is an amalgamation of three Earth-burrowing animals: comprised of the head of an antelope, the body of an aardvark, and the scales of a pangolin.

To the Bambara, the male-female relationship is synonymous to the Sun-Earth relationship so fundamental to farming. In the traditional ceremony, performed to encourage farmers both during and after their harvest work, one dancer dons a “female” Chiwara, distinguished by a baby carried on its mother’s back, and the other dancer dons a “male” Chiwara, distinguished by a complex angular pattern on its body.

Bambara people, Mali (Africa), 20th century

Wood

Gift of the Dr. Alan & Linda Rich Collection

Oct 20, 2021
Chiwara
Oct 20, 2021
Chiwara
Oct 20, 2021

The Chiwara, a creation of the Bambara people of West Africa, is the crowning piece of a crest mask worn by performers in a traditional dance ceremony that celebrates successful farming. It is named for Chi Wara, a divine figure in Bambara culture who taught humans to farm and cultivate land. Bambara philosophy correlates divine and mythical entities to animals. Accordingly, the Chiwara is an amalgamation of three Earth-burrowing animals: comprised of the head of an antelope, the body of an aardvark, and the scales of a pangolin.

To the Bambara, the male-female relationship is synonymous to the Sun-Earth relationship so fundamental to farming. In the traditional ceremony, performed to encourage farmers both during and after their harvest work, one dancer dons a “female” Chiwara, distinguished by a baby carried on its mother’s back, and the other dancer dons a “male” Chiwara, distinguished by a complex angular pattern on its body.

Bambara people, Mali (Africa), 20th century

Wood

Gift of the Dr. Alan & Linda Rich Collection

Oct 20, 2021
Chiwara
Oct 20, 2021
Chiwara
Oct 20, 2021

The Chiwara, a creation of the Bambara people of West Africa, is the crowning piece of a crest mask worn by performers in a traditional dance ceremony that celebrates successful farming. It is named for Chi Wara, a divine figure in Bambara culture who taught humans to farm and cultivate land. Bambara philosophy correlates divine and mythical entities to animals. Accordingly, the Chiwara is an amalgamation of three Earth-burrowing animals: comprised of the head of an antelope, the body of an aardvark, and the scales of a pangolin.

To the Bambara, the male-female relationship is synonymous to the Sun-Earth relationship so fundamental to farming. In the traditional ceremony, performed to encourage farmers both during and after their harvest work, one dancer dons a “female” Chiwara, distinguished by a baby carried on its mother’s back, and the other dancer dons a “male” Chiwara, distinguished by a complex angular pattern on its body.

Bambara people, Mali (Africa), 20th century

Wood

Gift of the Dr. Alan & Linda Rich Collection

Oct 20, 2021
Chiwara
Oct 20, 2021
Chiwara
Oct 20, 2021

The Chiwara, a creation of the Bambara people of West Africa, is the crowning piece of a crest mask worn by performers in a traditional dance ceremony that celebrates successful farming. It is named for Chi Wara, a divine figure in Bambara culture who taught humans to farm and cultivate land. Bambara philosophy correlates divine and mythical entities to animals. Accordingly, the Chiwara is an amalgamation of three Earth-burrowing animals: comprised of the head of an antelope, the body of an aardvark, and the scales of a pangolin.

To the Bambara, the male-female relationship is synonymous to the Sun-Earth relationship so fundamental to farming. In the traditional ceremony, performed to encourage farmers both during and after their harvest work, one dancer dons a “female” Chiwara, distinguished by a baby carried on its mother’s back, and the other dancer dons a “male” Chiwara, distinguished by a complex angular pattern on its body.

Bambara people, Mali (Africa), 20th century

Wood

Gift of the Dr. Alan & Linda Rich Collection

Oct 20, 2021
Chiwara
Oct 20, 2021
Chiwara
Oct 20, 2021

The Chiwara, a creation of the Bambara people of West Africa, is the crowning piece of a crest mask worn by performers in a traditional dance ceremony that celebrates successful farming. It is named for Chi Wara, a divine figure in Bambara culture who taught humans to farm and cultivate land. Bambara philosophy correlates divine and mythical entities to animals. Accordingly, the Chiwara is an amalgamation of three Earth-burrowing animals: comprised of the head of an antelope, the body of an aardvark, and the scales of a pangolin.

To the Bambara, the male-female relationship is synonymous to the Sun-Earth relationship so fundamental to farming. In the traditional ceremony, performed to encourage farmers both during and after their harvest work, one dancer dons a “female” Chiwara, distinguished by a baby carried on its mother’s back, and the other dancer dons a “male” Chiwara, distinguished by a complex angular pattern on its body.

Bambara people, Mali (Africa), 20th century

Wood

Gift of the Dr. Alan & Linda Rich Collection

Oct 20, 2021
Mali Mask
Oct 20, 2021
Mali Mask
Oct 20, 2021

Bambara people, Mali, 20th century

Wood, fiber, and metal

Gift of the Dr. Alan & Linda Rich Collection

Oct 20, 2021
Mali Mask
Oct 20, 2021
Mali Mask
Oct 20, 2021

Bambara people, Mali, 20th century

Wood, fiber, cowrie shell, and metal

Gift of the Dr. Alan & Linda Rich Collection

Oct 20, 2021

 

  • Visit/
    • PLAN YOUR VISIT
    • The Shop
    • Tours
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Penfield Library
    • Explore Nearby
  • Art/
    • Exhibitions
    • Student Gallery
    • At the Melvin
    • Our Collections
    • Resources
  • Education/
    • Adults
    • Children & Families
    • Educators
    • Studio
    • Teens
    • Art History Lecture Series
    • eMUSEings
    • BA Degree Program
  • Events/
    • Upcoming Events
    • Cinéma Art Historique
    • Gallery Concert Series
    • Mayfaire by-the-Lake
    • Host Your Event
  • About/
    • The AGB
    • Mission & History
    • Expansion
    • Diversity & Inclusion
    • Our Supporters
    • Press
    • News
    • Careers
    • Contact Us
  • Membership/
    • For Members
    • Become a Member
    • Renew
    • Business Memberships
    • Art Resource Trust
  • Donate/

The Ashley Gibson Barnett Museum of Art

The Ashley Gibson Barnett Museum of Art at Florida Southern College in Lakeland, Florida

The Ashley Gibson Barnett Museum of Art at Florida Southern College
Admission is always free.

si_Affiliate_rgb_horizontal_b&wSmithsonianAffiliate Tues, Wed, Fri, Sat | 10am to 4pm
Thursdays | 10am to 8pm
Sundays | 1 to 5pm
Closed Sundays, June through Labor Day.
Closed Mondays and Major Holidays.

800 East Palmetto Street
Lakeland, Florida 33801-5529
863.688.7743

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