Seated Figure (Djenne)

Ife This seated terracotta figure from Djenné (in modern Mali) represents the sophisticated artistic traditions of the medieval Niger River valley. Created around 1300 CE, the figure shows the distinctive posture and surface treatment of Djenné sculpture, with arms wrapped around raised knees and a textured surface suggesting scarification or disease.

Djenné was a major trading city where Saharan and sub-Saharan cultures met, facilitating exchange of gold, salt, and ideas. The terracotta figures were buried in mounds for unknown purposes, possibly commemorating ancestors or important individuals. Extensive looting has removed most figures from their archaeological contexts, limiting scholarly understanding.

This figure is at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.