Sogo Bò is a puppet masquerade performed by members of youth societies in the Segou region of Mali by the Boso, Somono, Markla, and Bamana peoples. The masquerades occur at the change of the rainy and dry seasons. Sogo Bò dates from the pre-Colonial era and evolved from grass puppets into wooden and cloth figures.

Sogo Bò masquerades include traditional songs and performances that pertain to hunting and fishing, placating water and forest genies, and giving thanks to the spirits after an animal has been killed. The performances also use satire to address current social issues within the culture and to challenge the traditional age and gender hierarchies.

Sogo Bò: The Animals Come Forth features a selection of puppets and masks used in the Sogo Bò masquerade. The objects were chosen from the collection of Mary Sue and Paul Peter Rosen.

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This exhibit was created by the following undergraduate and graduate students in Art History/Anthropology 4662/6662 Museum Exhibitions class, a part of the Museum Studies program at the University of Memphis.

Instructor: Dr. Patricia Podzorski

Special thanks to Dr. Mary Jo Arnoldi, PhD curator Africa, Department of Anthropology, The Smithsonian Institution.