Large Bozo puppet “Rooster” in polychrome wood – Sogobo art – Mali - Bozo - Mali (No reserve price)

LARGE SOGOBO PUPPET « ROOSTER » – BOZO/BAMANA – MALI
HEIGHT: 60 cm
WIDTH: 29 cm
THICKNESS: 15.5 cm

This imposing polychrome wooden sculpture representing a rooster is part of the world of masks and puppets of the Sogobo, an important tradition of popular theater in Mali, particularly present in the Bozo and Bamana communities of the Niger Inland Delta region.

During Sogobo performances, a veritable menagerie comes to life: birds, fish, crocodiles, hippopotamuses and other animals mingle with human characters. These large carved and painted figures participate in shows that mix music, songs, dance, humor and the transmission of collective memory.

The rooster presented here possesses a particularly expressive presence. Its slender silhouette, its comb, its beak, its large wings and its tail are entirely animated by remarkable polychrome decoration. The numerous geometric motifs and the colors — green, red, yellow, blue, pink, black and white — emphasize the movement of the plumage and give the sculpture strong visual power.

In Sogobo theater, animal representations go beyond mere decorative function. They evoke the natural world but also, through staging, various behaviors and social life situations.

The surface shows irregularities, wear, and losses of polychromy visible in the photographs, which contribute to the object's material history and its character.

Through its proportions, its significant sculptural presence and the richness of its decoration, this work is a very fine example of the creativity of the zoomorphic figures and puppets associated with the Sogobo tradition in Mali.

Cultural origin: Mali – Bozo/Bamana tradition
Tradition: Sogobo
Representation: Rooster
Material: Carved and polychrome wood