The creating of a powerful work of art requires the combination of different and often contradictory forces coming together to form a perfect whole. Even the artist himself may not know exactly how an object came into being. This mystery element, inherent in all great art, takes on a more tangible aspect in African sculpture. Among the Senufo a sculptor receives seven to eight years of training. During this period he is restricted to making secular articles such as household utensils. Not until after an initiation is he allowed to produce objects used in rituals. A true artist is regarded as someone who possesses the ability to animate an object with supernatural virtues.
This noble warrior does indeed impress us with an aspect of another dimension. The pure forms of angles and curves are exquisitely harmonized with the cylindrical shape of the waist, arms and lower part of the legs. Notice how his left hand extends outwards, offering an effective counterbalance to the sword held in the right hand, and giving the entire sculpture an overall unity. He is naked, which adds to his strength, decorated with ritual scarification. The pouch he wears around his neck may represent ones filled with magic herbs to ward off evil. With wonderful attention to the equilibrium of form this sculptor has created a lasting image of man as warrior, guardian and protector.