DOGON FIGURE WITH MORTAR AND PESTLE Mali Wood This female figure is portrayed performing an essential daily task, using a mortar and pestle to grind millet, a staple food in the Dogon diet. The figure exhibits a robust, muscular physique; her flexed arms and legs indicate the vigour with which she wields the pestle to crush the grain. H. 68 cm NOTE This kind of artwork may serve as a tribute to the contributions of women in their lifetime. In Dogon society, upon an individual's passing, their life is celebrated through lengthy speeches honouring their accomplishments in both the fields and the home. Women are often likened to a cherished wooden stirring stick worn down from extensive use, symbolising the tireless labour they undertake for the betterment of their families. This particular sculpture, depicting a woman engaged in typical domestic chores, could be considered the visual equivalent of such a eulogy. Placed on a family ancestral altar, it would stand as a lasting acknowledgment of the deceased's lifelong work, preserving indefinitely the expressions of gratitude uttered at her funeral.