Description
Baga Nimba Statue – male
In their original context, a male figure like this is paired with a female figure and placed in a shrine to ensure
agricultural and human fertility
Both male and female figures are called d’mba, which refers to an ideal state of womanhood and motherhood among the Baga
The hairstyle and facial patterns are typical of the neighboring Fulbe women, who are considered
extremely beautiful throughout West Africa
D’mba may represent ideals of human behavior and beauty that cross gender and ethnic
boundaries
Although the D’mba masquerade is always female, male and female D’mba figures exist, suggesting that the ideal that
D’mba represents crossed gender lines
