Central Plateau and Bandiagara, Mali, and Burkina Faso
Dogon

Bronze
Pre-20th Century
Height: 10 in; Diameter: 3.75 in
Idiophone-Struck Directly – Metal Bell

Among the Dogon, altar figures personify ancestors or ‘nommos’ of origin in the creation of the Dogon.  This hand wrought iron bell with reddish brown patina displays figures on both sides standing with their left arm bent upward.  A male nommo figure on one  side, a female nommo figure on the other side, symbolizing the first humans in the Dogon myth of creation.  Also, the depiction of a pair on the bell possibly indicates a respective role as nurturers and sustainers of life.