Bamana Figural Post Mali 29 Inch

This figural post was hand-crafted and carved with angular shapes in mind, illustrating a figure.

The genesis of the Bamana as a definable culture can be traced back to the 17th century, though archaeological evidence hints that they could be much older. They are of Mandinke origin and today are the largest culture in Mali. The zenith of Bamana culture occurred during the late 18th century during the reign of N'golo Diara, who conquered the Peul tribe and occupied the important cities of Timbuktu and Djenne. They remained powerful until conquered by the French in 1892. In recent decades, like cultures throughout Africa, they have been affected by Islamic recruiters from the East. Though they still consider themselves animists, many Bamana now practice a hybrid combination of both "religions." This has allowed these competing cultures to coexist peacefully.

142816