AKL Art Spotlight: Bamana Puppet

The Bamana, or Bambara, people are the largest ethnic group of Mali, which is in western equatorial Africa. Art is an important part of the lives of this group. There are several different types of performances involving masks. The n'tomo mask, for example, is used in male initiation ceremonies.

An they also use puppetry like the piece shown above. Performances are typically seen after important events, like a harvest. These stage shows most often revolve around domestic life and conflicts of the home. Using comedy, they tell tales of farmers, wives, and day to day to life.

By Safari Mike