SLIDE 7 Drum, Senufo, Côte d'lvoire/Mali, 20th century

HOW WAS THIS OBJECT USED? WHAT PURPOSE DID IT SERVE? This drum was made by the Senufo people who live in Cote d'Ivoire and Mali. It was played in masking ceremonies and may have also been used to communicate with other villages. Drums not only give the beat for the dance but also tell the dancers when to change their steps. This drum is decorated with animals and figures that have important meanings in the Senufo cosmology. Cosmology is the system of beliefs that deal with how the universe was created and how it works. Animal forms including a turtle, a hornbill bird, an alligator, and a snake-decorate this drum. The Senufo people believe that the hornbill was the first animal on earth and that it acts as a messenger between humans and the gods. The alligator is a symbol of fertility. The animals depicted on ceremonial drums often refer to the particular ritual or type of masquerade for which the drum is used. Drums are only one of many instruments used in rituals or masquerades. PART 2-PAGE 4 OF 9

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