51. Ritual combat between the Serpent masqueraders of the two moieties at Monchon, Buliniits. Drawing made for Denise Paulme by her consultant Moussa Bangoura, a Bulufiits youth from Monchon Village. Courtesy Denise Paulme.
52a-b (opposite). Headdress in the form of a serpent (a-Mantsho-fia-Tshol). Baga/Nalu/Landuma/Pukur/ Bulufiits, early twentieth century. The Serpent headdress was immense and must have been held vertically on top of the head by extraordinary balance. Wood (Cordia africana), polychrome, iron. H. 220 cm. Museum Rietberg, Zurich (RAf 8). Acquired 1961.
tree, I saw the Ninkinanka, which did not resemble a human being. From the head to the tail, he was adorned with a crest. His face resembled something of a human being. He had, from the two sides of his face to the tail, three colors: red, white, and black. ... He was there, and we were transfixed. It was a beautiful being with a human face, and beautiful eyes. I wanted to take it and carry it to Kawass, but how to carry it? I didn't know how to row a canoe. I said to him,"You—if it were not for the sea, I would take you with me to my place, but, unfortunately, I don't know how to row, and if I ask someone else to take me over, he will refuse." I drew away from the cotton tree. A few days later, I went again to confirm that he was still there, but, alas, he had departed elsewhere ... To construct the a-Mantsho-iia-Tshol, or -fia-Tshemp, it was necessary to capture the spirit called Ninkinanka. It was at the site where one captured Ninkinanka that one constructed the a-Mantsho-ria-Tshemp. It is this Ninkinanka who becomes your a-Mantsho, capable of detecting certain hidden matters. Ninkinanka lives on the earth as we do, but he lives apart. He can be found under a great tree. This is not something ordinary. Ninkinanka can kill spiritual beings. ... It is a serpent—it is the boa constrictor who lays the Ninkinanka. When the boa constrictor lays eggs in a circle, the egg in the middle of the circle is the Ninkinanka. If, by chance, you are lucky enough to encounter all these eggs hatched except the one in the middle, you must take it and place it in your trunk. This egg will hatch and become the Ninkinanka.
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