From the estate of a world traveler, this is one of several masks in the collection. In central and southern Mali, the Bambara "Bamana" or "unbelievers", as the Muslims called them, belong to the large Mande group. Mostly farmers, but also herders, they make up the largest ethnic group in Mali. Animists, they believe in the existence of a god requires the gestation of a child. Ngala maintains the order of the universe. Groups of nyamakala craftsmen are in charge of carving ritual objects.