Description
cotton, with verses from the Quran written onto the material and embellished with leather charms and pouches
Dimensions
53 x 50cm
Footnote
Provenance:
Private collection, France
Private collection, London
Note:
Shirts such as the present example play an important role in the rituals and ceremonies practiced by the Bamana people of Mali prior to a hunt. The cloth is decorated with verses from the Quran and traditional leather pouches called basi. The charms within them are believed to have special powers to aid in the hunt that will be lost if opened.