The “Kotoko Equestrians, Guardians of the Soul – from the Pierluigi Peroni Collection” publication
Publication presentation, talk and guided tour
Wednesday, October 8th at 6 p.m.
- Talk participants:
- H. E. Mr. Harold Augustus Koko, Ambassador of the Republic of Nigeria in Serbia
- Sira Miori (PhD), director of the Italian Institute for Culture in Belgrade and Coordinator of the Balkanic Area. Counsellor (Cultural Affairs) at the Embassy of Italy in Serbia
- Senka Kovač (PhD), Professor at the Deaprtment of Ethnology and Anthropology, Faculty of Philosophy Univeristy of Belgrade
- Narcisa Knežević Šijan, Museum research fellow, Museum of African Art director
The “Kotoko Equestrians, Guardians of the Soul – from the Pierluigi Peroni Collection” publication by MAA curators Marija Ličina and Dragan Mišković, accompanies the exhibition bearing the same title, through which more than three hundred miniature bronze figurines – talismans with the horse and rider motif, are presented. The Publication is bilingual (Serbian and English), printed on 130 pages and illustrated with over 50 object photographs by Vlada Popović. Besides descriptions of stylistic traits and object interpretation, the publication is divided into several thematic wholes including: an overview of the cultural history of peoples settled in the region of Lake Chad, information on the ancient Sao civilization and recent history of the Kotoko people, an illustration of the folk belief in spirits who influence peoples fates and the tradition of talisman-wearing, as well as interpretations on the significance of the horse in Africa, which represents a status symbol and ruler's prerogative in many cultures.
