This more seldom style of tyiwara comes from the Region around the city Bamako and belongs as well to the collection of Boris Kegel-Konietzko. Bamako tyiwaras are part of the little group of big exceptions in african art as they are generally separated in two parts which are linked by a metall band on the neck.
The stylistic charm of this 1953 near Sanankoro collected headdress comes from its horizontally shape with convergent horns.
Tyiwara means in the
Bambara language tyi = animal, wara = work. They refer to the beginnings of agriculture, when according to legend the antelope gave man the first corn as a gift and taught him how to cultivate it. Hence tyiwaras are danced at agricultural festivities. Thereby the dancer’s body is covered with a gown, which is to be understood as part of the mask. The body, which is bent forward, and two supporting sticks in the dancer’s hands give a perfect imitation of a four- footed animal. The masks are always danced in pairs , which allegorically stands for the power of the combined workforce of man and woman.
Comes with original colletors etiquette from the 1950s.
Info-Link:
Boris Kegel-Konietzko 
