Anointing vessel

The Bari are a Nylothic people settled mainly in eastern South Sudan, but in fewer numbers also in Uganda and the Congo. Its number, which has been decimated over the centuries, varies considerably according to sources, although it is most likely that it will not now reach 100,000 people among the different territories. Also known as Kuro or Karo and most of them speak the BariIt is a sedentary people that has traditionally been dedicated to agriculture and grazing.

Cattle occupy an important place, both from a ritual and social point of view, as it serves as dowry at weddings, or economics. Peaceful people who have had to fight hard to defend their lands from the invasions of their neighbours Zande and the Dinkas and who have suffered the ravages of slave trade and slavery over several centuries inflicted by Europeans and Turks, avid ivory traders, abundant in their territory.

Most of them now converted to Christianity and Islam were traditionally animistic although many of them practice syncretism in which the animist rites are not lacking. The rainmaker has traditionally been the most important character, even more so than the boss. In their day, both boys and girls had to tear off incisors during the initiation period and proceed to ritual scarifications. They also packed the body with red clay. The birth of twins was considered a disgrace.

Its traditional habitat was made up of huts of branches and grass with conical roofs. They buried their dead in the huts, sitting and with their hands tied behind their backs, in square holes.

Curious small vessel topped at the bottom by a sort of semi-sphere in which two holes and a longitudinal slit simulate a face, totally elemental. We lack information about the use of this container, but it would not be strange if it was used in funeral rites.