Rattle/Sistrum

Bamana Boys Initiation Rattle/Sistrum

Mali / Guinea / Burkina Faso / Senegal
Bamana

Wood and Calabash
ca. Mid-20th century

Length of handle: 17 inches
Idiophone - Struck Indirectly - Shaken

The Bambara (Bambara: Bamana or Banmana) are a Mandé people living primarily in Mali but also in Guinea, Burkina Faso and Senegal. "Bamana boys are initiated into early phases of their sacred age-grade society before puberty. At their circumcisions, pairs of these very loud calabash disc rattles are played as the initiates leave their villages - a frightening sound one can imagine. Although Muslim, the Bamana preserve a very rich animist culture. The two-horned being at the top of this rattle is a traditional and typical Bamana motif." Alan Suits

Owner:
Catalog#: AF-IDST-232-40

© Hartenberger World Music Collection