Bamana Female Figure
Nyeleni Statue
Bamana (Bambara) people, Mali
Mid 20th Century
Height: 88 cm
Provenance: Dutch Collection
This wooden Bamana female figure, known as a Nyeleni or Jonyeleni, embodies the Bamana ideal of youthful feminine beauty and strength. Created by the Bambara people of Mali, these figures were traditionally used in Jo initiation ceremonies, where they symbolized purity, fertility, and social harmony.
This statue showcases the geometric and stylized form that defines classic Bamana sculpture. Key characteristics include: conical, prominent breasts; protruding buttocks, emphasizing fertility and sensuality; cubist-inspired, angular body structure; scarification marks on the chest, abdomen, and back. Metal eyes and earrings, enhancing the figure’s vitality and presence.
Nyeleni figures were often carried village to village, used in performance and initiation rituals, and displayed as icons of feminine virtue.
This piece is in good condition and comes from Dutch collection,
€ 1950
