A male Mumuye sculpture is standing on his two legs, carved in a ZigZag shape. Some sculptures show bodily proportions that correspond with real anatomy, others are purposely altered by their maker. The torso and arms make up the most of the sculpture while the head is quite small, supisinglyThe figure’s bust is forwardly arched, in an upright bowing position and turns slightly towards the right. The arms are not connected to the torso but follow the curved body. The hands are simply carved out of the forearms. Indeed, Mumuye carvers pay much attention to the arms and one can encounter many stylistic varieties in them, usually having them merge with the shoulders. The small oval head, carried by a thick cylindric neck, shows very small features: an open mouth under two nostrils, which is framed by circular surprised eyes, emphasised by a white patina prompting them out. The face is patterned by scarifications, usually a sign of status and beauty. The head is ornamented with an impressive hairdo, mounted with a type of crown or headdress. This figure is architecturally built and the abstract pieces form an overall figure that is astonishing in balance, rhythm and composition. Hard, dense and heavy wood, insect or water damages are particularly noticeable on the figure's right arm and leg.

The Making of a Figure Sculpture.
Once the appropriate part of the trunk bas been selected, the location of the figure’s head is marked off and the contours of the statue are shaped. During the carving process, the shape of the figure’s shoulders will taper towards the base. The part from where the legs will be formed is first cut into the block. To shape the upper part of the hips and the waist, the carver renders the belt and marks the extremities of the arms. Then the wood between the arms and trunk is cut away, the separating the two elements. For the final work of carving the ears, nose and mouth,, the artist uses thee blade from his adze, a small knife, or a small chill. Finally, he cuts the figures legs out of the block.“ p.31 -32.

" Eventhough there is a lack of first hand information detailing the sculpture behind such figures, the anonymity of such artists who carved these human figures does not take away from their brilliance in technic and creativity. „The varied forms of Mumuye sculptures testify to the carver’ limitless inventiveness in the representation of the human body. As symbols of statures and rank, such statues are the personal property of individuals such as diviners, healers, and rainmakers, which may contribute to the sculptures’ freedom of expression" p. 17.

„Mumye is a collective term used to denote different sedentary farmer groups occupying the rocky hills south of the Benue River, between the towns of Jalingo in the Taraba State and Jeleng in the Adamawa State, in northeastern Nigeria. […] It is generally accepted, however, that the earliest figures to arrive in the West are two figures now housed at the British Museum, London, one memorialised by Henry Moore in his sketchbook.“ p.9

„Mumuye figures do, however, show similarity in style with those attributed to the Jukun […] which suggests cultural and religious affinities between them“ p.9.

Frank Herreman and Costantine Petridis wrote in the excellent Book about "MUMUYE, Sculpture from Nigeria. The Human Figure Reinvented" 2016.

It is in the 1970’s that Mumuye sculptures caught the attention of established museums in the West, following extensive scholarly research and publications around them in the 1960’s. Many exhibitions sprung from this keen interest in these figures, ranging from the Museum of Primitive Art, New York 1961, Die Kunst von Schwartz Afrika, Kunsthaus Zurich 1970’s, African Sculpture: The invention of the Figure, The Hague 1990’s, Visual Encounters: Afric, Oceania and Modern Art, Foundation Beyeler, Switzerland 2009, Central Nigeria Unmasked: Arts of the Venue River Valley at the Fowler Museum, UCAL 2011, to name but a few.

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Height: 107 cm
Weight: 6,2 kg