Bamana Statue, Jonyeleni, Mali

Beautiful figure of fertility, camped on short legs, the arms forming an arc of a circle and the hands resting on the prominent belly. The body is punctuated by a strong dynamic of forms, associating convex and concave surfaces. The tension of the face, breasts and abdomen thrown forward responds to the sinuous curve of the shoulders, back and buttocks.
The expressive face with geometric features, is built on two concave surfaces carved into a ball-shaped head and sectioned in the center by a protruding nose that ends in a small volume with a triangular base. The prominent almond-shaped eyes are underlined by raised eyelids and the mouth seems to smile following the line of the chin. The headdress is made up of a sagittal braid that runs down the back to the neck and two side braids behind which the quarter-sphere ears take shape. Her pointed breasts symbolize the nurturing concept associated with women. The curves of the back and the buttocks are underlined by a meticulous decoration incised with herringbone lines. Sculpted bracelets adorn the arms and handles. Magnificent shiny dark brown patina. This statue expresses in the power of its forms the ideal image of the Bamana woman, both desirable and fruitful, to which the initiates of the Jo can claim at the end of their initiation. Statues jonyeleni are carried by the jodenw of the village to the village every seven years during the Jo ceremony.

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Origin
Ex French collection