250806 - African Dogon Balofon player sculpture Niongono region from Mali
Mali: Extremely Rare and Antique African Dogon Balofon player Sculpture from Mali
Hand carved from a single piece of wood.
Height: 44 cm including the stand and 40 cm without the stand.
This Dogon sculpture is dated from begin of the 20th century and comes with a certificate of authenticity.
A wooden representation of a BALOFON player from the Dogon people of Mali. The statue is heavily weathered by the effects of rain, heat and use with extensive material loss as can be seen in the photos, it is placed on a metal stand. A Dogon balafon musician is someone who plays the balafon, a traditional West African percussion instrument that is primarily associated with the Dogon culture, known for their rich cultural heritage, including their music and dance, and the balafon plays an important role in their ceremonial and daily life. The Dogon balafon musicians are often part of larger ensembles that perform traditional Dogon music during ceremonies, festivals and other social events. Dogon music is more than just entertainment, it is an integral part of their religion, social structure and history. Music is used to communicate with the spirit world, to tell stories, and to bring the community together. The balafon, a type of xylophone, is an important instrument in Mande culture and is also found in Dogon art. While the balafon isn't a central part of Dogon society's traditional music, it's depicted in their art, sometimes as a pair, which may be related to a story in the Sunjata epic.
The 400,000 Dogon live 180 miles south of Timbuktu on the cliffs of Bandiagara, which dominate the plains for over 150 miles. They speak approximately 120 dialects, many of which are not mutually comprehensible. At first hunters, now on their small fields they cultivate millet, sorghum, wheat, and onion. The millet is stored in high quadrangular granaries around which they build their houses. Because of the difficult approach to these regions and the aridity of the climate, the Dogon have been isolated and hence were able to conserve their ancient religious habits and ways of making the necessary implements, their carvings.