These wooden fish sculptures are made by hand in Ségou (Mali) where the Bozo, an ethnic group living on the banks of the Niger River, use them as puppets in water rituals and various social events.
The Bozo Tribe are people from the kingdom of Ghana (Ghana Empire) who settled in Mali around the 10th century. They dedicate themselves almost exclusively to fishing and trade. Their culture and art focus on their interaction with the Niger River. The Bozo are occasionally referred to as the “masters of the river.”
These large fish sculptures are crafted by Bozo artisans in Mali. They are hand-carved from wood, painted, and then antiqued through an underground smoking process.
The piece is a carving with a number of patterns that imitate fabric through the use of bright colors. There is a string mechanism inside the fish that allows the side fins to move. The fish sculptures were used in competitions to find the best performers.
The fish sculptures pay tribute to the handcrafted animal puppets and masks that are used in the Sogo Ba celebration, where young men in elaborate costumes use dance to entertain and teach.
Though considered to be a form of entertainment, the performances are directed towards a description of the universal morality and imperfections of humans and therefore the need to educate people as regards ethical behavior and how to attain a religious way of life and maintain social and familial stability.
