Fetish Boli Bamana Or Bambara Mali

Rare fetish called Boli, Bambara Mali. These objects are unique in Africa. These fetishes are supposed to capture a vital energy called nyama, and bring health and prosperity to the population. A wooden frame is covered little by little, ritualistically, with various materials, sacred earth, beeswax, chewed coca leaf, chicken blood and bones, moreover we can see a small piece of bone protruding (photo3). The shape gradually rounds out to resemble a buffalo crossed with a hypopotamus, a rounded primal animal. These fetishes are now abandoned with the radicalization of Islam in Mali.
This model is particularly beautiful, which is not always the case (see last photo), they are very rare on the art market and can reach significant sums => Sothebys or Christies.