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Mali, Bamana peoples

Female figure (Jonyeleni)

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Object Details

Culture

Mali, Bamana peoples

Medium

Wood and beads

Dimensions

11 1/2 × 2 1/2 inches (29.2 × 6.4 cm)

Credit Line

Gift of Mr. and Mrs. William W. Brill

Object
Number

92.005.027

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONThis carved Bamana figure called a Jonyeleni represents youthful female beauty. The(…)

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONThis carved Bamana figure called a Jonyeleni represents youthful female beauty. The Jonyeleni embodies ideal female features: round hips, a narrow and cylindrical torso, and conical breasts.WHERE WAS IT MADE?This carved wooden figure was made in Mali, where the Bamana people live.HOW WAS IT MADE?It is the job of the blacksmith to carve items such as this Jonyeleni. Using an adze, blacksmiths carve figures and masks from a single block of wood.HOW WAS IT USED?This figure represents the primordial woman at the time of the founding of Jo, the secret initiating society to which some Bamana families belong. Members of the secret Jo organization advocate purity of the soul and sacred unions. On a practical level, members both insist that Bamana men adhere to strict moral standards and assist women who have difficulty conceiving or bearing children. Every seven years both boys and girls are incorporated into adult society through a series of Jo rites and performances. Young male initiates of Jo, called Jodenw, carry Jonyeleni with them as they travel over a period of several months to surrounding villages to perform. The Jonyeleni signify a young man’s adult status and his desire to find a wife and enhance his performance.WHY DOES IT LOOK LIKE THIS?This figure represents youthful female beauty, “the beautiful young woman of the Jo.” The style of Jonyeleni figures varies, from naturalistic facial features to highly abstracted heads and bodies. However, certain traits embodying ideal female features remain the same; notice this figure’s round hips, a narrow and cylindrical torso, and conical breasts. Also notice her scarifications, a highly structured coiffure, jewelry, and a shiny, well-oiled surface; these features reflect the traditional beautification practices of Bamana women.

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