Segouni-Kun

• Title Segouni-Kun
• Category Sculpture
• Medium Wood
• Dimensions 43"h x 12"w x 8"d
• Description Male antelope
• Notes Segouni-Kun is a male antelope from the Bambara people of Mali. Compared to similar female antelope sculptures, the male sculpture is larger, has a mane, and does not carry a fawn. These pieces are worn on the head, often attached to a basketry cap, with the addition of full body masking. Male and female pairs appear at holy and ground clearing ceremonies, the male typically appearing first and walking the perimeter of the arena before the female appears and does the same. The dance of the Tyi Wara, a half-man half-beast, is where these pieces take prevalence.* Tyi Wara is said to have taught humankind the secret of agriculture. Where the Bambara live in west central Mali, the land is dry, and working the land requires significant effort. For the Bambara, farming is not just a necessity, but the noblest professions. The profession is so significant that it has led to the creation of religious beliefs and rituals to glorify agriculture. This is how the Segouni-Kun came into being, as these pieces are carved to represent Tyi Wara and call to mind his memory and the values he instilled into men. *Pascal James Imperato, “The Dance of the Tyi Wara.” (African Arts, vol.4, no. 1, 1970), 8-80.
• Artist Bambara Malian
• Credit Clyde and Annie Matters Collection
• Location Library Art Storage B20-B38
• Accession Number 1994.0004
• Status Checked Out
• Administration Admin View
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