TRIBAL AFRICAN ART MALINKE (WANGARA, WASULUNKA) Mali, Guinea, Côte d'Ivoire and Senegal Malinke (“people of Mali”) are named for their links to the empire of Mali. They are independent of Bambara, but their style shows a strong influence of their neighbors. The style of the Malinke masks is characterized by having a vigorous, bold configuration of volumes, some with extremely large hemispherical forehead unified with an angular nose and square mouth. Others show more Senufo influence. The statues of the Malinke are also somewhat more vigorous compared with those of the Bambara, with a frog-like projecting mouth and an elaborate coiffure.