The Senufo Peoples

Scattered across the Ivory Coast, Mali and Burkina Faso, the million and a half Senufo tribespeople live principally off the fruits of agriculture and occasionally hunting. They inhabit villages governed by a council of elders, who in turn are led by a chief elected from their number. Tribal cohesion is reinforced through the rituals of the Poro society who initiate and educate the men from the age of seven onwards. Senufo theology is based on Koulotiolo, a powerful god, and Katieleo, a goddess mother, who through the rituals of the Poro society, regenerates the world.

The Senufo were among the first tribal artists to be admired by the Western world. Their artistic output has been prolific - statues and masks characterized by realistic features or highly geometric shapes which emphasize rhythm and the opposition between void and full spaces.

MASKS

Senufo people use different types of mask depending upon the occasion. Face masks, known as Kpehyee, are worn during Poro society ceremonies. They display a typical heart-shaped face surrounded by 'wings'. Among the helmet masks is a Janus buffalo mask worn during funeral ceremonies and at times of crisis. Their principal purpose is to destroy malevolent spirits - their power comes from a small cup located at the top of the helmet-head which holds magical substances; sometimes their mouths issue sparks conferring on them the name, 'firespitter'. Another type of helmet mask used during Poro initiation ceremonies displays the head o a buffalo topped with a pair of antelope horns. The Senufo have also produced three types of headdress. One is a small wooden cap which supports a female figure and is worn during celebrations to honour the most productive village farmer. A second type of wooden cap is worn by healers and issues a pair of animal horns. Lastly, a headdress supporting a vertical, open-worked panel is worn during Poro society initiations..

STATUETTES

Senufo figures vary a great deal, but nevertheless can be identified by their heart-shaped faces, arrowshaped noses and crescent coiffures. Their height varies from 15 to 120 cm. Among the most famous statues of African art are a series known as the Pombibele, 'those who give birth'. These are large figures, 120 cm high, used during the funeral ceremonies of Poro society members. In the central Senufo area they are left standing in the middle of the ceremonial ground, while in the southern Senufo area, they are carried and then pounded on the ground, providing rhythm for the dancers.

This ceremonial led to the calling of these statues by the popular name of 'rhythm pounders'. Smaller statues representing divination figures or nature spirits have also been made. They are given offerings, which are sometimes made through a cup at the top of their head, thus giving the entire figure a rich black oily patina. When carved in pairs, they symbolize the primordial couple - an ideal Senufo nuclear family who respects its ancestors.

Secret societies also used figures, referred to as a Kafigelejo, which personify spirits with judiciary and punitive powers. These are completely covered with a piece of cloth and bear a thick encrusted patina. Large bird figures can also be seen during Poro ceremonies. They stand on the ground or are carried on the heads of new male initiates. During ceremonies related to the upper grade of the Poro society, dancers incorporate stylized horse figures.

EVERYDAY OBJECTS

A vast array of Senufo everyday objects are adorned with figures - heddle pulleys, ointment boxes, doors and pieces of monoxyle furniture, such as stools, chairs and beds. The most productive farmers are rewarded with decorated canes bearing small human figures or birds. Senufo metalworkers produced refined jewelry and ornaments, usually in copper, such as finger rings and foot rings adorned with bovine heads or chameleons, symbolizing their genesis, and small figurative masks and amulets with apotropaic purposes.

RELATED TRIBES

The Senufo have influenced neighbouring tribes stylistically. The Diula tribespeople produce metal objects, such as masks and daggers adorned with a face, large pipes and food-related vessels. The Ligbi tribespeople make typical face masks with pointed chins, semi-closed eyes and raised scarifications framed by wings like Senufo Kpeliyee masks.