SAMUEL SIDIBÉ (English translation): The way the sculptor focuses on the details of both the horse and the figure, to me, shows the work of a great master of sculpture.

ANGELIQUE KIDJO (NARRATOR): The artist responsible for this work ingeniously unified a man and his horse. The striking figure and his mount almost merge into a single entity.

This subject is both one that is spiritual and one that addresses the history of the regions’ great empires.

Samuel Sidibé, former director of the National Museum of Mali.

SAMUEL SIDIBÉ (English translation): Clearly, he’s a significant figure in society.

In Africa, older men often have this beard, which they cultivate as a sign of respectability and greatness.

When you see the left arm raised, you can see something is broken—he probably held a spear. So, in this position of a warrior or perhaps a hunter, he’s ready to throw his weapon at the enemy or at an animal.

Owning a horse is not something everyone can do. So, it’s a symbol of power, luxury, and in a way, an animal that commands respect, as it helps men participate in combat when it comes to defending the community.

ANGELIQUE KIDJO: This figure takes on new meanings when it enters the museum.

SAMUEL SIDIBÉ (English translation): The significance of a museum exhibiting such an object is to honor the culture, but also to help visitors understand the context of these objects and appreciate the high value of the cultures they represent. The promotion of cultural diversity is a global issue of extraordinary importance today. When museums promote tolerance and diversity, they contribute to reinforcing our shared humanity.