This power object or boli is an essential part of Bamana spirtual life. Boli are designed to accumulate and control spiritual forces and energy (nyama) in order to affect outcomes for the community. The zoomorphic form begins with a wooden armature, which is then wrapped in cloth and encrusted with many layers of organic sacrifical materials. This crust may include mud, clay, animal fur, alcohol, excrements, or blood from a goat or chicken. This layering can become so built up that it completely obscures the orignal contours of the armature. The form of this boli is ambigious, possibly suggesting the figure of a zebu cattle, known for its distinctive humps.