Gurma I, also known in French-speaking regions Gourmantche are linguistically relative of a population with the most famous and live in the northeastern Mossi of Burkina Faso. Among the items most frequently found between the artistic production of this people, there are certainly large and elaborate bronze bracelets or similar alloys. ornaments but also loaded with an exchange value, the bracelets are inscribed with Gurma graphic patterns reminiscent of the lines used during the rituals of divination and, therefore, also have symbolic value-magic.
From top to bottom the first bracelet evokes the symbolism of the snake (it is a "snake-bracelet") and, in this type is quite rare. The second, also not in common type, is rather like double cast, with a bronze alloy and less than a high percentage of copper and, therefore, with a color more yellowish or reddish, depending on the areas concerned, according to the expert Wilfried Glar (personal communication), this is not simple technique has been used by only a few craftsmen through the first half of the 20th century. Also for this second piece evoked the symbolism is that of the snake. The next two types see bracelets most common, although the quality rather than discrete objects: the second of the two is like "nodes", also reported by Blandin in his text, and the first "shining" almost golden gloss.
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The last two bracelets shown are the most bulky and heavy: the Gurma is the first and the second (lighter in color and open) is probably the invoice Fulani, an ethnic group which shares a border with Gurma to the north of Burkina. The five
Gurma bracelets come from Wilfried Glar while the Fulani by Klaus-Jochen Kruger.
Bibliography:
addition to texts already reported for bronze objects
1) Afrikanische Reife. Teil 5: Die Gurma
Wilfried Glar - Glare, Bedburg, 2007
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