Senufo Maternity Figure

Maternity Figure

Senufo Peoples, Cote d' Ivoire

H: 25 in, W:8 in, D:8.5 in.

Materials: wood, beads

In almost all African societies, the most important role of women is to bear children or cooking and farming. The bond between mother and child in African societies is stronger than their fathers. Their primary responsibility is to produce and nurture children - it is a cultural duty. Image of a woman holding a child shown here, may reflect a number of ideas such as: they may represent ancestors and serve as symbols of lineage or clan forbears. This is typical of a Senufo queen mother holding her baby.