Bamana people in Mali mark the first rains with a ceremony that honors ci wara, the mythic animal ancestor who taught them how to farm.

Women sing as two men dance, wearing headdresses that resemble roan antelopes and embody the ideal qualities of a farmer: strength, tenacity, and grace. The dancers call on ci wara to bless the harvest.

In recent times, the ci wara headdress has become a powerful symbol for Bamana ethnic identity and for the nation of Mali itself.