A female Agni sculpture, Cote d'Ivoire, collected in Bongouanou region, standing on a plinth, hands on her abdomen, long ringed neck, and a distinct coiffure. Dark wood, glossy patina. Agni sculptures from the Bongouanou region of central Côte d’Ivoire represent a central aspect of the Agni people’s artistic and spiritual culture. These works are closely tied to ritual practice, social organization, and ancestral veneration, functioning as material mediators between the human and spiritual realms. Agni sculptures are not created primarily for visual display; their meaning and efficacy are inseparable from the ceremonial contexts in which they are used. Formally, Agni sculptures from Bongouanou are characterized by elongated proportions, balanced symmetry, and simplified yet expressive features. Faces typically exhibit calm, composed expressions, with high-set eyes, straight or gently curved noses, and closed or slightly pursed mouths, reflecting ideals of dignity, self-control, and moral authority. The body is stylized with smooth volumes and stable postures, emphasizing permanence, social order, and spiritual presence rather than naturalistic detail. Ornamentation is minimal, with emphasis placed on proportion and form to convey symbolic significance. These sculptures are primarily associated with domestic shrines, lineage or village rituals, and funerary observances. They may embody ancestors, protective spirits, or moral principles, serving as focal points for offerings, libations, and ritual attention. Their power is understood to accumulate over time through use and proper ritual treatment, making surface wear or traces of ceremonial substances integral to their meaning. Carvers in the Bongouanou region operate within well-established stylistic and ritual conventions, transmitted through apprenticeship and guided practice. While subtle variation may appear in facial modeling, proportions, or surface finish, adherence to tradition is essential to ensure the sculpture’s social and spiritual efficacy. Individual creativity is expressed within these constraints, reinforcing continuity and collective recognition of form. In summary, Agni sculptures from Bongouanou exemplify a tradition in which aesthetic form, ritual function, and social authority are inseparable. These works serve as active participants in spiritual and communal life, embodying moral ideals, ancestral presence, and cultural continuity within Agni society. CAB31476