Staff 19th-20th century

This wooden staff, created by the Malinke people of West Africa sometime between the 19th and 20th centuries, is a striking example of their art. It depicts a stylized human figure with an elongated, slender form and geometric patterns carved into the surface. The staff's dark, polished finish adds to its sense of mystery and power. These staffs were often used in ceremonies and rituals, representing ancestors or spirits and serving as a connection between the physical and spiritual worlds. The Minneapolis Institute of Art houses this piece.