Sogoni koun headdress
At the start of a new agricultural season, the dancing of elegant paired ci wara headdresses rallied communal farming efforts. The master blacksmiths who carved these examples harnessed nyama (life force) to invest their creations with endless innovative originality. Depending on the region in which they were based, blacksmiths favored one of two major approaches. In the east, the towering attenuated male headdress was modeled on dege (roan antelope), while the delicate female corollary references sogo-ni (oryx). To the west, the roan antelope was interpreted as equivalent gendered pairs whose design emphasizes the horizontality of the creature’s head through sweeping extensions of its horns. Within these broad categories, an array of individual interpretations and subgenres developed.
Artwork Details
- Title: Sogoni koun headdress
- Artist: Bamana numu (blacksmith)
- Date: Late 19th–early 20th century
- Geography: South-central Mali
- Culture: Bamana peoples
- Medium: Wood
- Dimensions: H. 21 in. x W. 4 in. x D. 3 5/8 in.
- Classification: Wood-Sculpture
- Credit Line: Gift of Carol B. Kenney, in memory of Jerome P. Kenney, 2025
- Object Number: 2025.96.4
- Curatorial Department: The Michael C. Rockefeller Wing
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Bamana numu (blacksmith)
19th century
Bamana numu (blacksmith)
15th–17th century
Bamana numu (blacksmith)
17th–mid-20th century
Bamana numu (blacksmith)
15th–17th century
Bamana numu (blacksmith)
19th–early 20th century
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.