‘Small, beautiful girls’, such as the present figure, were carried around by young male initiates. Such standing, female figures were called ‘Nyeleni’ oder ‘Jo-Nyeleni’ (this translates as ‘small, beautiful girl’) by the Bambara people in the Mali savanna. For the male initiates of the initiation group of the Bambara ‘Jo society’ they embody the ideal female beauty and grace of young women who are of marrying age. The young men always carry these figures with them and place them on the edge of the place of worship for song and dance performances.
The present, typical and old ‘Nyeleni figure’ is carved from hard, heavy wood and dyed black. It displays the style of the Bougouni and Dioila region: a tall crested coiffure, with plaits on both sides in front of her prominent protruding ears, with a long, straight nose and a sketched mouth. Her body displays etched, decorative scarification marks on her chest and back in the form of straight, crossed and jagged lines, a long back line, as well as ornamental bangles on both upper arms. The arms point straight downwards, with delicate hands. Her breasts point directly forwards as a sign of her fertility. The navel is accentuated and the hips are distinct. The 'Nyeleni' originally stood on relatively large feet – these have unfortunately broken off the front. Overall, a characteristic ‘Nyelini figure’ of the Bambara people with some small, age-related damages: a visibly old crack – with some parts missing – to the stomach, minor cracks to the head and left leg, as well as two small old pieces broken off the left shoulder. Otherwise a stylistically perfect piece with a very good, old shiny patina as a result of protracted use. Height: 44.5 cm; width: 12.5 cm. First half of the 20th century. (ME)

Provenance:
German private collection.

Lit.:
'Bamana. Afrikanische Kunst aus Mali’ by Jean-Paul Colleyn, Rietberg Museum Zurich, ill. 135, 137, 138, 139, 140.