Chi Wara, Bamana, Mali

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"Such objects are worn in male/female pairs by Bamana men who are members of the Ci Wara association, the second most important of the six Bamana men's societies. The function of the Chi Wara is to teach the skills needed for successful farming, to ensure a good harvest, and to guarantee the survival of the Bamana. The crests are worn in dances accompanied by women singing songs in praise of the ideal farmer. The dancer imitates the bounding leaps of the antelope and emits sharp cries as the best young farmers in the community wildly hoe the ground around them. The pairing of the antelope crests represents the essential union between men and women to produce new generations, and between sun and earth to produce new crops."

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Website: https://africa.uima.uiowa.edu/media/photos/show/112?back=home%2FSearchForm%3FSearch%3Dbamana