Ceremonial Drum of the Senufo People
The construction of the drum is particularly indicative of the roles of women within Senufo communities and how they are seen as "preservers of life" those that hold up the structure and spirituality which govern their world.
The first record of exhibition of the object is at Cannes, France, Palais Miramar, Arts d'Afrique et d'Oceanie, from July 6 till Sept. 29, 1957.
[1] It made its final appearance under the ownership of Harry A. Franklin, at the Smithsonian Institution exhibit, "Sounding Forms: African Musical Instruments", from Apr.
As for the design of the caryatid figure, one can observe scarification marks on her face and abdomen; along with bracelets and carefully styled hair indicating high community status.
There are snakes associated with divination; a male warrior with raised arms; a water snake attacking a tortoise which represents knowledge of medicine and sorcery, and how important winning is in hoeing contests; a male figure seated on a horse, holding a lance; a bird considered noble by the Senufo and a lizard/ crocodile carved in low-relief, considered to be one of the first creatures to inhabit the earth.
[4] The Kulebele Carvers form part of one of the oldest trade commercial networks of the Côte d'Ivoire[8] with recorded migration the area as early as the eighteenth century.
[9] The drum in Senufo communities has many uses from ritual agricultural events, commemorating competitions, to being played to honor women of status at their funerals.
The members of a ton villa (a farming centered group consisting of young men and women) utilize music within agricultural competitions as a means of managing work productivity.
Women of the ton vala provide an important part of the music as they sing and play sichaala and sichaa-gun-go gourd rattles.
Whether they join a djegele ensemble in the field, or sing as an independent group, they encourage the spirit of competition through songs of praise for each man's efforts.
In fact, the funerary associations of the drum can be seen to be drawn from one of the most important Senufo ceremonial events, a Kuumo or "great funeral".
One of these instrumental group performances is particularly interesting for its live-action caryatid figure imitation by Poro society drum bearers.
The demonstration itself is a Poro society ritual practice, whereby young, unmarried Senufo females actually bear the considerably heavy drums of the players, holding the instrument in the same pose as that of the caryatid figure.
