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Ciwara is the name of a mythical creature who first taught humans farming. The Ciwara association, its masks and its performances, honor farmers and acknowledge the importance of their work in the community, since a poor harvest may result in starvation.

The male maskers, who have been chosen as the year’s best farmers, dance bent-over with antelope-like movements, carrying a stick in each hand, symbolizing an antelope’s forelegs, and perhaps refer to Ciwara’s original digging sticks.

This wooden crest is worn by a dancer. This one depicts a female antelope, always with offspring. This headpiece honors the mythical creature and serve as emblems of the Ciwara association. The antelope horns symbolize stalks of millet grain, the primary food of the area. The zigzag patterns in the mane refer to the path of the sun.