Marka

The Marka people, also known as the Warka, belong to the Soninke people whose settlements date

back as far as 750 AD in Ghana. Conflicts with the Berbers compelled the Soninke to disperse into neighboring regions. The Marka people now occupy the northern part of Mali, the northern part of the Bambara territory. This ethnic group is independent from the Bambara but their styles show a strong Bambara influence.

The Marka are famous for their masks and puppets. Similar to Bambara's ntomo society masks, Marka masks are generally carved with horns, comb or crest on top of the head, but unlike Bambara masks they are often covered with metal sheeting. The Marka also dress their masks in gaily-colored costumes made of cloth.

In Mali some masks are made by blacksmiths who are feared for their power to use fire to

forge images of the supernatural beings and live apart from the rest of the village. The

mask maker would probably say that he saw the image inside the raw wood and cut material away to free it.