This is a very rare old carved wooden image of the Merekun from Mali , West Africa and the Bamana peoples. A fine old marionette used by the Bamana in ritual theater with a highly stylized form, and a wonderful elongated face painted red. Among the many Bamana art forms is sogo bò, a puppet masquerade theater shared with the Bozo and other neighboring peoples. Organized by village youth associations, whose male and female members range from age fourteen to about thirty-five, the theater’s aim is entertainment, allowing young men and women to explore the moral universe and gain knowledge through play, humor, satire, and wit. Sogo bò performances include small puppets like this, whose handlers hide behind large textile enclosures when performing. The Age and handling of this sculpture is genuine, it is quite old. From Mali, Africa. The statue measures 28.5 inches tall / 30 inches tall on professional quality base

Overall well handled, good condition, repair to breast