Bamana Maternity Figure
The Bamana people of Mali constructed a maternity figure for fertility reasons. The most important role of a woman in this culture is to be a mother. Because reproduction and having a healthy pregnancy and baby is key to life, women with fertility and child-bearing problems in Bamana society go to the Maternity Figure. Sacrifices are either made to the figure or the woman praises it and raises it as if it were her own, real child. These figures from the Bamana are carved from wood.