Description

Bwa crested bird chevillière or anklet made of aluminium.
Bwa women wear this type of anklet during the Dwo mask dance ceremony, or mask of leaves.
Wonderful patina from usage, lost wax casting, mid 20th century.
Collected in Burkina Faso.

Inner dimensions: 6 cm by 9 cm (4 1/4″)
Thickness:: 12 mm
Full length: 14,3 cm
Weight: 88,1 g

Reference: Afrique de l’Ouest – Bronzes et autres alliages, André Blandin (2000), p. 35

About the BWA
The Bwa or Bwaba (plural), occupy the area of northwestern Burkina Faso as well as parts of Mali. Their livelihood is largely based on agriculture, supplemented by hunting and fishing.
Bwa villages are composed mainly of farmers, smiths, and musicians who also produce textiles and work leather.
They are animists, as are most of the ethnic groups of Burkina Faso, as their system of beliefs is based on the encounters between the founding ancestors and the respected grand-parents, who are confronted with the real and spiritual beings inhabiting the world.The Bwa carve large polychrome zoomorphic masks with striking geometric patterns, worn during funerals and for entertainment.
Bwa statuary associated with divination and ritual is quite rare.