Bamana Maternity Seated Figure Jomoori Gwandusu Mali

Sculpture among the Bamana of Mali gives rise to a wide range of styles sharing certain identifying characteristics. The styles may range from elegant forms as this figure or reduced to sharply defined geometric sculptures. This wonderful Bamana figure is a rare classic carving with some use and good age stylistically located in the area between Bougouni and Diola. This grave personage known as Jomooni or Gwandusu is called a ‘maternity figure' due to her holding a child at her waist, which represents not only a baby but the concept and difficulty of birth and regeneration. Sculpture is an important visual component of the Jo initiation society for young girls and boys. Located primarily among the southern Bamana, Jo takes place over years in which the initiates undergo training and instructions which includes sculptures as “masiriw - the visual ornaments” of Jow. As part of annual celebrations that take place when the first rains of the year occur figures such as this would be taken from their shrine house to the center of the village where they would be ritually cleansed and decorated with beads. These events were directed to assure the fertility of women and crops and to acknowledge the ancestors The headrest is typical of Bamana or even Dogon hairstyles shown in double strands at the back of the head. Her ears are pierced and at some point in the past would have had earrings drawn through them.

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