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Flute - Whistle

Bobo Bwa Flute - Reptile Skin

Burkina Faso, Black Volta River region
Bwa

Wood and skin
ca. Mid-20th century

Length: 11 inches
Aerophone - Edge-blown - Flute/Whistle

This superb Bobo Bwa flute/whistle shows the ancient akimbo style (limbs bent - an abstraction reminding of a standing person with hands on the hips ). It has been covered with animal gut or reptile skin that clings to the flute giving it a magical appearance. It has a lovely patina from long time traditional use.

 

Owner:
Catalog#: AF-AEBH-32-42

There are two ethnic groups called Bobo. The Bobo Fing (literally 'black Bobo'), who speak the Bobo language, a Mande language, and the Bob-Oule/Wule (more precisely called the Bwa), who are a Gur people, speaking Gur languages.