Female Face Mask
Late 19th/early 20th century
Bamana, Marka, or Sorogo Eastern Segou region, Mali Northern Africa and the Sahel
Mali
Variously attributed to the culturally related Bamana, Marka, or Sorogo peoples, this small mask with its striking indigo-blue color and decorative copper strips shows signs of intense usage. It depicts a beautiful and alluring Fulani maiden named Meren, a popular character in entertainment performances sponsored by youth associations among the Bamana and their related neighbors. The Fulani are a large group of Islamic nomadic merchants and pastoralists that ranges widely over West Africa.
Wood, copper, and indigo