Karnigi Coulibaly
Fono sculptor, c. 1890–1969
Fonondara, Côte d‘Ivoire
While living in Fonondara (near Pondiou), Karnigi Coulibaly became the best known of the Fono carvers in the greater region surrounding Boundiali. During his first stay in Fonondara during the 1960s Karl-Heinz Krieg knew him, but unfortunately no photo exists of Karnigi Coulibaly. However there are several photos of his carvings, used as divination figures and masks in the region of Boundiali. Karnigi Coulibaly was the teacher of Kolotielema Dagnogo and he had a major influence on Sécondjéwin Dagnogo and other Fono carvers as well.
“Karnigi Coulibaly from Fonodara was a great carver. God had bestowed a special talent upon him. The entire world knew him as a great carver, although he was a Fono smith! He carved the best figures, however I have not seen any of his Kpelie masks. He also carved figures and masks for the Poro Sacred Forest (bois-sacré).”
“I knew Karnigi as someone who sought no quarrel. He was quiet; he worked at his forge and carved. So he had a good name and always had commissions (for carvings). People came to him to order carvings so therefore he was always busy.”
Mask carved by Karnigi Coulibaly, dancing during a funeral in Poudiou, Côte d’Ivoire. Photo: Karl-Heinz Krieg, Poundiou (near Boundiali), 1966
Altar of Fobré Secongo, Sando woman from Fonondara. She explained that the figures were carved by Karnigi Coulibaly in about 1947. Photo: Karl-Heinz Krieg, 1978
Interior of a fetish house in the village Ndyakaha (near Siempurgo), Côte d’Ivoire, with a figure pair made by Karnigi Coulibaly. Photo: Karl-Heinz Krieg, 1976
OBJECTS BY Karnigi Coulibaly
Krieg and Lohse, Kunst und Religion bei den Gbato-Senufo, 1981, p. 45, male figure collected 1964 in Fononlara
Sotheby's, 12 Dec 2012, Lot 76
Yale Archive, no. 0128351
Himmelheber, Negerkunst und Negerkünstler, 1960, p. 65
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Private notes taken in the field, Karl-Heinz Krieg
Text: Helen Krieg and Daniel Mato, PhD