Boli Figure
People: Bamana
Medium: Wood, various spiritual substances
The Boli figure takes on somewhat of an animalistic form though it is unclear what the object is actually physically representing. However, this ambiguous form is very powerful to the Bamana people because it is activated with several spiritual substances. Blood, sweat, spit, or semen are all substances that are held to be spiritual. These substances accumulate on the Boli figure and ultimately make the Boli figure an altar rather than a single object. The Bamana people can conduct rituals and spiritual activity around this powerful altar to bring out the nyama or spiritual force for the good of the community.[1]
Medium: Wood, various spiritual substances
The Boli figure takes on somewhat of an animalistic form though it is unclear what the object is actually physically representing. However, this ambiguous form is very powerful to the Bamana people because it is activated with several spiritual substances. Blood, sweat, spit, or semen are all substances that are held to be spiritual. These substances accumulate on the Boli figure and ultimately make the Boli figure an altar rather than a single object. The Bamana people can conduct rituals and spiritual activity around this powerful altar to bring out the nyama or spiritual force for the good of the community.[1]
[1] Monica Visona, Robin Poynor, and Herbert Cole, A History of Art in Africa, (Upper Saddle River: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2008), 119-120.