Scrofulous Sogolon 89 Over the last forty years or so, central Mali and, more specifically, the Inland Niger Delta have supplied the Western art market with hundreds of terracotta figures obtained through clandestine excavations. These so-called “Djenne” archaeological objects, most of which are figurative and date from the thirteenth to the seventeenth century, are now in museum and private collections. The lack of scientific data about their original context has led to considerable guesswork about just what they represent. To remedy this deficiency, we have called on Mande oral tradition that preserves the knowledge of the region as well as upon medical imaging to attempt an interpretation of some of these artworks. Reversing the Curse This article is not yet another paper on “Djenne” terracotta sculptures in that it does not seek to add to the ongoing and relevant discussion about the pillaging of Malian artworks.2 Nor does it relate to archaeological research, another field in which many writers have exercised their talents, especially in the wake of the few official excavations that have been carried out in Mali.3 We are not trying to compete with those studies, which sparked our curiosity but left us surprisingly dissatisfied. This disappointment came not from the inadequacy of the published work but from the deep-seated conviction that something more could be learned from the sculptures themselves. We were convinced that an in-depth study of the pieces would yield essential information despite the dearth of excavations recognized by the scientific community, despite their having been ripped from their archaeological contexts, despite the desire they arouse in the West, and, most importantly, despite the curse laid on them in some academic circles today, where it seems inappropriate or even shameful to publish4 or, worse still, exhibit them. Do not ask who I am and do not ask me to remain the same: leave it to our bureaucrats and our police to see that our papers are in order. At least spare us their morality when we write. Michel Foucault1 FIG. 1: Female figure. Inland Niger Delta (IND) region, Mali. 13th–15th century. Terracotta with ochre/red slip. H: 37.5 cm. Ex Dr. Pierre Harter. Musée du Quai Branly, Paris, inv. 73.1991.0.39. © Musée du Quai Branly; Scala, Florence. Photo: Patrick Gries/Bruno Descoings. MAP: Inland Niger Delta region. © Tribal Art magazine/Frederic Cloth.
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