Chiwara

The Bambara people ( Bamana ) is one of the largest in the African country of Mali ; there are several kinds of the traditional hat-mask of the Chiwara depicting the antelope totem. The Antelope woman is always depicted with a baby on her back and straight horns that present the main obstacle to pack into the baggage of limited dimensions. Meanwhile, the Antelope man has bent horns and a phallus. There is also a type of an abstract Chiwara. This headwear is worn only for ritual dances and serves as a reminder of Chiwara, an antelope - man, who came to earth to teach people how to cultivate the land and plants of grains. Today Chiwara is associated with myths and ceremonies of the Bambara.