Standing female figure "jo nyeleni" ·  Mali, Bamana · ID: 3036870

Description

wood, blackish brown patina, the body consisting of geometrical forms, base;
“nyeleni” figures illustrate the Bamana notions of ideal feminine beauty and character traits desired in young marriagable women. Prominent breasts show the figure in its prime, able to bear and nourish children; the strong neck is associated with “honesty and integrity”. “Jo nyeleni” figures belong to the “jo” association. Most “jo” figural sculpture is used by the “numu jo” troop, the blacksmiths initiates. The “nyeleni” figures are either carried by the performers or placed behind them on the ground as a kind of backdrop. “Nyeleni” are said to increase visual interest, punctuating the performance and attracting the audience’s attention. They are “things to look at”. In performance they are adorned with loincloths, jewelry, head ties, or other items borrowed from young women in the village.