Less than two hundred miles from Timbuktu, one enters the land, cliffs and life of the Dogon people. Built within and around the Bandiagara cliffs a multitude of dwellings are found. The Dogon realize that they are not the first inhabitants of the land that they now occupy. Their myths, legends, traditions and art retain the memories of their predecessors. According to Dogon history the Nommo, of which there are eight, are the forefathers of the entire Dogon race. After the sacrifice of the fifth nommo and the scattering of his dismembered body across the earth, the seventh nommo descended from the heavens. This was the blacksmith, who brought to earth the ancestors of human beings, animals, grains and technology. The exact cosmic vehicle in which the eighth nommo brought these things down to earth in is a matter of debate from village to village. The dominate version is that an ark was used, one that had the head of a horse. Upon landing the rider, the eighth nommo, disembarked from the ark on horseback. It is believed that the horse was the very first animal to leave the ark; thusly the very first animal to inhabit the earth! Quite naturally much has been made of this. The horse motif is found throughout Dogon art. Here a carefully carved, wooden, darkened figure of the horse, bedecked with embossed tin strips and ear rings, surmounts a cap with a heavy fiber base. The horse structure has been cleverly and securely attached with tiny wooden sticks. The cap, worn a top the head of a dancer has been adorned with cowry shells, raffia fringe and flowing strands of braided fiber. This sought after used selection is used during various tribal celebrations.

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Dimensions: The entire structure measures 11 7/8 inches tall. The wooden horse is 10 inches tall x 4 inches deep x 2 1/4 inches wide.

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