The history of clay maternity figures in Djenne, Mali, includes the discovery of sculptures and the meaning of these figures:
Sculptures
Excavations in the Djenne region have uncovered many sculptures, including terra-cotta, cast copper-alloy, and gold figures. These sculptures date from the 8th to 17th centuries, but maternity figures are less common than other subjects.
Meaning
The meaning of these ancient maternity figures is unknown, but they may have represented a primordial mother or a mythical figure in the history of the clan.