Minsereh Figure

This resembles a minsereh , or min , figure, though the term has broadly been used to refer to any carved female wooden figures. Min figures are traditionally used as part of the Yasi (Bullom) or Njayei (Mende) society for curing sickness, though they have also been associated with the Sande society. Indeed the Sierra Leone National Museum catalogue notes that this example was used during the initiation of girls. This example stands on a rectangular base, and has a typical segmented neck.