Dogon Balafon Players From Mali

Statue in solid wood with a thick crystallized crusty patina height 44cm width18cm depth 16cm Couple of mythological hermaphrodite type whose meaning is not precisely known, see copy in the Mazenod and the DOGON book by Hélène LELOUP where she quotes "Statue N'Duleri du centre- north of the plateau of Biandagara. The eyes very close together are a characteristic of the style of the region of the center and N'duleri. But this particular workshop carved a hairstyle with central locks braided backwards and with shaved temples. This sculpture monoxyle represents two balafon players, the Mandé name for the xylophone, a musical instrument which is not in use among the Dogon, but which is on the other hand important in the Mandé since it would have been favored by King Souamoro, founder of the Empire from Mali" free shipping worldwide