Janus Figure / Scepter – Wood – Bambara – Mali

Stylistic wooden Janus ancestor statue / scepter of the Bambara tribe from Mali.

Sogo bo, the puppet masquerade drama of the Bamana, is an exploration of the moral universe.
The relationship between men and women and the problems of domestic relations in polygamous households are important concerns of many Sogo bo performances. Conflict among co-wives is a popular theme in many stories and two of the main characters areBarabara, the Favorite Wife, and the Galomuso, the Bad Wife. Like folktales and other theatrical forms, these masquerade performances throw cultural values and social relationships into high relief and open them up for public scrutiny.

Certain objects (power sticks, scepters, fly swatters, etc.) are exclusive attributes of the function of chief or king, a set of objects that we call re galia . These are the material symbols of the chief’s power.

Good condition with traces of wear and tear. Wonderful aged patina with multiple scarifications over the body.

Provenance: Manfred Schäfer, former gallery owner from Ulm, Germany.