REGION: Africa
COUNTRY: Mali
YEAR PRINTED: 1961
VALUE: set of 11 stamps at various values from 1 franc to 200 francs
This set of 11 stamps all depict a Dogon kanaga mask used in funerary rituals. Each stamp has a different value (1, 2, 3, 5, 10, 25, 30, 50, 85, 100, and 200 francs) and is printed in a different color to aid in distinguishing them.
REGION: Africa
COUNTRY: Mali
YEAR PRINTED: no date (1970-1984)
VALUE: 1000 West African CFA francs
This banknote, printed from 1970 until 1984 for the government of Mali, celebrates the country’s traditional masks. It is issued in the denomination of 1000 West African CFA francs, which is a combined currency used by eight countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, Guinea-Bissau, Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, Niger, Senegal, and Togo. The note’s obverse side depicts a Bamana (Bambara) man and a hydroelectric dam, flanked on either side by chi wara crest masks of the Bamana people. The reverse features a Bandiagara village of the Dogon people (also of Mali) and a Bamana n’tomo mask.
REGION: Africa
COUNTRY: Mali
YEAR PRINTED: 2001 & 2002
VALUE: 235 West African CFA francs
This stamp, designed by O.M. Diallo, celebrates a traditional mask of the Bobo people of Mali. The mask shown has a crest showing a man riding an antelope and is painted from a mask kept in the National Museum of Mali.
REGION: Africa
COUNTRY: Mali
YEAR PRINTED: 2018
VALUE: 1800 West African CFA francs
This stamp was issued by the government of Mali in 2018 to celebrate Malian culture. It depicts masks of the Bambara (or Bamana) and Bozo peoples.
REGION: Africa
COUNTRY: Mali
YEAR PRINTED: 1971
VALUE: 25 West African CFA francs
This stamp is one of a set celebrating traditional masks of the peoples of Mali. This stamp depicts a funeral mask of the Dogon people inhabiting the community of Bandiagara.
REGION: Africa
COUNTRY: Mali
YEAR PRINTED: 1971
VALUE: 20 West African CFA francs
This stamp is one of a set celebrating traditional masks of the peoples of Mali. This stamp depicts a bronze mask from the Bambara (also known as Bamana) ethnic group.
TITLE: Dogon Nommo Mask
TYPE: face mask
GENERAL REGION: Africa
COUNTRY: Mali
ETHNICITY: Dogon
DESCRIPTION: Nommo (circumcision) mask with seated figure on head
CATALOG ID: AFML003
MAKER: Unknown
CEREMONY: Circumcision
FUNCTION: Adult Initiation
AGE: ca. 1970s
MAIN MATERIAL: wood
OTHER MATERIALS: N/A
The Dogon people of Mali use a tremendous variety of masks, most of which center around funeral rites. Traditionally, the Awa Society controlled the use of masks. This nommo mask would have been used in the adult initiation ritual for boys between the ages of 9 and 12, at their circumcision. During the ritual, members of the Awa Society wear masks such as this one, representing important ancestors.
TITLE: Bozo Fish Puppet Mask
TYPE: face mask
GENERAL REGION: Africa
COUNTRY: Mali
ETHNICITY: Bozo
DESCRIPTION: Sogo Ba yellow fish puppet crest mask
CATALOG ID: AFML007
MAKER: Unknown
CEREMONY: Sogo Ba
FUNCTION: Entertainment; Social Status
AGE: early 2000s
MAIN MATERIAL: wood
OTHER MATERIALS: paint; cloth; hardware
The Bozo people of Mali inhabit the area along the Niger River and live predominantly by fishing. Many have been converted to Islam, but they nonetheless maintain animist beliefs and masking traditions today. Unlike other west and central African peoples, however, the Bozo do not use masks for important spiritual functions so much as for entertainment. Masks and associated puppets (sometimes, the two are combined) entertain the village and raise the dancer’s social status through demonstrations of skill in mask making and dancing. The Sogo Ba ceremony is a masquerade of puppets danced by groups of young men who tell stories to music for the education and entertainment of the public. Fish puppet masks are especially popular with the Bozo, because fishing is crucial to the Bozo economy.
TITLE: Dogon Kanaga
TYPE: face mask
GENERAL REGION: Africa
COUNTRY: Mali
ETHNICITY: Dogon
DESCRIPTION: Kanage Mask
CATALOG ID: AFML004
MAKER: Unknown
CEREMONY: Dama
FUNCTION: Funeral
AGE: Mid to late 20th century
MAIN MATERIAL: wood
OTHER MATERIALS: pigment; string
The Dogon people of Mali use a tremendous variety of masks, most of which center around funeral rites, known as Dama. Traditionally, the Awa Society controlled the use of masks, such as this kanaga. The kanaga is used in funerals to usher the spirit of the dead from the village back to its proper place in the bush. Along with the mask, the dancer wears a hood of plaited fiber to cover the back of the head, and a costume of black and red woven cloth embroidered and decorated with cowrie shells and beads. The kanaga dancer also wears a pair of woven pants and a long skirt of black, red, and yellow plant fibers.
The mask represents a god, the crossbars representing arms and legs, as well as the arrangement of the world, with the upper bar representing the sky and the lower bar representing the earth. As in other African masking traditions, the white color of the superstructure indicates the spirit world.
TITLE: Bamana Chi Wara
TYPE: crown mask
GENERAL REGION: Africa
COUNTRY: Mali
ETHNICITY: Bamana (Bambara)
DESCRIPTION: Chi Wara Segu Crest
CATALOG ID: AFML012
MAKER: Unknown
CEREMONY: Agriculture; Initiation; Social Control; Status
AGE: Late 20th century
MAIN MATERIAL: wood
OTHER MATERIALS: brass plating; animal hair; leather; dyed cotton pompoms; cotton string
The Bamana people, sometimes called Bambara, are one of the largest ethnic groups in Mali. They have six major secret societies of different levels of prestige that conduct adult initiation rituals. Initiates are taught survival skills, social customs, and religious principles. The Chi Wara Society dances using crest masks only and teaches social values and agricultural techniques.
The Chi Wara itself typically takes the form of a roan antelope crossed with a human. The character itself is supposed to represent a culture hero born of the sky goddess (Mousso Koroni) and an earth god in the shape of a cobra. The Chi Wara taught the Bamana to sow and harvest crops.
There are four major kinds of Chi Wara: the Bougouni Southern; the Segu Northern; the Bamako Northern; and the Sikasso. This specific mask represents the third style of Chi Wara, the Bamako from the northern region, and depicts a male.
The Chi Wara is danced in male and female pairs, with each wearing a full suit of raffia fiber and the crest mounted on a basket (as here) that sits atop the dancer’s head. The male dancer leads, leaping like an antelope and scratching the ground with a staff to illustrate the teaching of agriculture. The female follows behind and fans the male to spread his powers to the village.
