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Soapstone figure, carved in the style of a nomoli. Nomolisia are thought to have originally been used as ancestor figures, however more recently they were dug up in largely Mende speaking areas during the preparation of fields for cultivation and reused to encourage high rice yields. This example is unusual for a nomoli since it depicts a crouching figure with its arms folder over its knees, hiding its face. There is a hole bored into the top of the head.
These objects are only a part of our collections, of which there are more than 350,000 objects. This information comes from our collections database. Some of this is incomplete and there may be errors. This part of the website is also still under construction, so there may be some fields repeated or incorrectly formatted information.
The database retains language taken from historical documents to help research. Please note that some records may feature language and reflect systems of thinking that are outdated and offensive. The database also includes information on objects that are considered secret or sacred by some communities.
If you have any further information about objects in our collections, can suggest corrections to our information or if you see content requiring immediate action, please contact us: enquiry@horniman.ac.uk
