SENUFO NATURE SPIRITS
Nature spirits, or madebele, are a prevalent theme in Senufo art. The madebele are small, invisible spirits that occupy the natural world along with the Senufo. Since these spirits may cause misfortune, many Senufo arts are created and displayed to honor and appease the madebele. The madebele are represented in a human-like form, sometimes with backward-turned feet or with spikey projections on the figure. Personal ornaments such as bracelets and painted mudcloth (filafani) are worn by the Senufo to appease the madebele.