African Bambara Wood Statue

The arrangement of the conical forms of this effigy of African art Bambara constitutes a remarkable formal balance. Its meditative appearance reminds us that it is the receptacle of spiritual forces. It is also an evocation of fertility accentuated by the bulging abdomen with a prominent navel.
We find the Bambara, Bamana, in central and southern Mali. This name meant unbeliever and was given to them by Muslims. They belong to the large Mande group, like the Sonic and Malinke. They believe in the existence of a creator god, generically called Ngala, who has 266 sacred attributes. One, every day of the nine lunar months that lasts the gestation of a child. Ngala maintains the order of the universe. His existence coexists with another androgynous god called Faro, who gave all the qualities to men and who grows the fruits of the earth.