In Bamana oral histories, the mythical ancestor Ci Wara - half man, half antelope - introduced agriculture to the men and women of southwestern Mali. This headdress, marked as female by iron jewelry, would have danced alongside a male counterpart. They were worn at festivals to encourage and praise farmers' efforts in the fields. Several details make the connection between the mask and the earth. Surface decoration of layered chevrons on the mask's face and horns and the zig-zag pattern of the legs may refer to the sun's radiance needed for a successful harvest. When in use, the pair dances while pawing and digging into the earth, much like the farmers they are meant to inspire.