A Colonial Scene

This masterly detailed and executed tableau, carved from one piece of wood was made in the style developed by the celebrated Madagascan sculptor, Tongamana who was active around the 1920s. It depicts an interaction between the unpopular colonial authorities and a native from their perspective. In a scene showing two uniformed native colonial officials interacting with a local Bara person who is wearing traditional dress and hairstyle, holding a mohara, a horn talisman.