What is this? Image search says Bamana Chiwara headdress but ?

I found this at my local thrift store today. I thought it was some kind of African art, but google image search keeps saying "Bamana Chiwara headdress" ?

I don't think thats correct because it has a base that looks like its meant for a flat surface - like a sculpture or statue?

What do I have?

PS - I apologize for highlighted text, I copied/pasted the head dress name from the image search & the rest of my sentences came out highlighted!

 

it is what it says it is , with a janus head ...






.



u just don't know how it is worn..............

 

Thank you for the help!

 

I just looked up janus, thinking it was some type of African animal (stop laughing) but its a 2 faced/headed Roman god - why would they use roman gods?
Thanks again

 

Jman-Lots of world cultures use the Duality concept in their mythology.The 'ying-yang', male/female, dark/light balance thing.
Many societies have this belief system, and it may have manifested independently.

 

"Janus" is a term that has come to be applied to any figure with 2 faces, usually facing in opposite directions.

 

Ah, that makes sense - I may be wrong but the stories I remember of Rome & ceaser, I dont remember them marching into Africa. Which is why I was wondering why the would have a roman god on anything.
Thanks

 

The Roman Empire was huge-"Roman settlements in Africa were concentrated along the Mediterranean coastline, particularly in present-day Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, and Libya, with key cities including Carthage, Leptis Magna, Volubilis, and Timgad".

 

I get that, it was just a roman god in the art/religion., etc - the fact that its come to be applied to the name to a lot of dual face figures made it make more sense to me!

 

I knew it was in a lot of the Mediterranean, I just didn't associate it with Africa - my bad & my apologies.

 

Also the source of the name of the month 'January.' Looking both forward and back.

(One of my favorite anecdotes.)

 

No apologies needed. I don't know much about abt Roman History-just remembered the wild African animals in the arena in 'Gladiator' !