Monday, January 10, 2011

Carved wood birds (Dogon granary door locks)









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3 comments:

Janas said...

Images scanned from the book: Alain Bilot, Michel Bohbot, Geneviève Calame-Griaule, Francine NDiaye - Serrures du Pays Dogon - Paris, Editions Adam Biro, 2003.


The locks serve to regulate nyama, the vital energy that resides in all creation, which can be manipulated by soubaya (sorcery).
But the locks, through their public display and embellishment with tiw graphic signs or pictographs, also reflect “a Bamana intent to use them to teach and remind people about the essential religious and philosophical beliefs and values of Bamanaya” (p. 22).

Legends, Sorcerers, and Enchanted Lizards: Door Locks of the Bamana of Mali. Pascal James Imperato. New York: Holmes and Meier Publishers, 2001.

January 10, 2011 at 11:02 PM
bolingo69 said...

A most beautiful post! I thank you Janas. I meant to say something the last time I saw it but got distracted. I really like the looks of these locks!

Thank you!

January 14, 2011 at 6:59 PM
Janas said...

Thank you for the visit and comment Bolingo!

January 14, 2011 at 9:53 PM

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