BAMBARA

Statue

Mother with child

Bambara (Bamana): They constitute with 2.7 million people nearly one third of the total population of Mali.

Besides the Dogon, the Bambara are known as the most important sculptors in Mali.

The sculptural work of the Bambara is manifold and in general of a rigid, monumental, but elegant style.

The figures are cubistic and the bodies svelt and column-like. The breasts come out as heavy, pointed cones, the arms hang down naturally. A trait of female figures is the transversal hair cut with analogy to the bold tresses standing off on the side of the live models.

The Bambara know lots of female figures serving the fertility cult.