From the Bamana culture of Mali Africa, the Female Figure, Figure 8.7, is made of wood and brass and stands 21 inches high. Such figures were associated with a female fertility cult and were stored in special houses created for them On occasion. such figures were brought out for public display or for elaborate rituals to aid women having dificulties in conceiving and childbearing. This figure has sharp, angular planes and geometric forms. The head is also defined in angles, with he nose dominating the front of the face. The hair is arranged in an elegant, abstract coiffure. The shoulders and chest are fairly squared until the protrusion of the conical breasts. The elongated, crecc torso has a slight swell at the navel down to where the abdomen connects to the short, bent legs. The entire figure is incised with geometric lines, some perhaps indicating body scarification. Interesting button like iorus verically line her chest, ending below her breasts, again suggest ing body ornamentation. Attention has been paid to the rich. shiny patina chat causes finer details to show up well on the surface. The geometric forms are connected by lines, resulting in an aesthetically rich blend of the two- and three-dimensional elements in the piece