A Senufo village consists of about a dozen districts, or dane, which means land or soil. It is run by a council of all the elderly men who assist the chief, a descendent of the female line of the founding lineage. The chief is tarafolo, or proprietor of the communal lands, who oversees the seeding, planting and harvesting. He is also responsible for the purification of the land and, most interestingly, he assists in the distribution of money from community harvests to pay for dowries, upkeep of the elderly, hospitality and performances. Within this highly organized framework a deep connection exists between land, ritual and art. The artist/ sculptor was essential to the spiritual life of the community. A young person with a special gift could be made an apprentice by the chief, in order to ensure that valuable skills were not lost and were carried on to the next generation. Talented sculptors were called upon to make a variety of objects used in rituals and ceremonies, including "champion batons". Periodically competitions were held, organized between young land workers. The overall winner received a baton, such as this splendid example. This was the highest honor a Senufo man could achieve. The seated female is beautifully designed with stylized heart- shaped face, bracelets, scarification, and long, hanging breasts. These features are a standard of beauty for the Senufo. The man who won her would not see in her an ancestor figure, but a living woman who evokes sexual desire and fertility; the ideal female and a future bride. Holding this baton is exciting, as if it still retains the energy and electricity of competition and victory. We can feel the joy of the victor in his glorious moment of triumph, parading his trophy through the village, held high with pride for everyone to see.