superb rider - njenne - Mali (No reserve price)

Terracotta Rider
This African sculpture depicting a horseman on horseback draws on statues dated from the XIIth to the XVth century, derived from archaeological excavations conducted at the Dienne-Djenno site along the Niger. These terracotta objects have been attributed to the Mali Empire, and the riders, likely representing dignitaries, reflect the prestige associated with owning such a symbol of value. The functions of these sculptures, however, remain unknown.
The ancient Dienne sites all lie in flood-prone zones. Artefacts surface when waters recede, and inhabitants sometimes discover them by chance.
The heavy fragmentation of the terracotta pieces is still a matter of debate. Indeed, weathering over time and burial certainly played a role, but it would also seem that these pagan art objects were subjected to brutal, systematic destruction.
It appears, however, that the Islamization of West Africa was very superficial and could not, therefore, prevent animist cults.