The Boli figure, or altar, of the Bamana peoples of Mali is a unique work of art not based on what an individual knows about the figure, but rather on what they do not know . Boli has a secret quality that harnesses community energy, and people's reactions to Boli can fluctuate based on their interpretations of the object. Boli is made of materials ranging from human bodily fluid to sticks and ropes. The figure is generally made to resemble an animal, typically a hippopotamus or cow, but over time, with sacrificial material covering the figure, it can become somewhat unclear. The Bamana people have a dark relationship with Boli for many reasons which may emerge from the materials it is made of, its uses in society and its extremely secretive nature. The Boli figure (fig. 1) rests on four separate legs that all connect to the ground forming a stable connection with the earth so that the Boli can rest without fear of falling. The fixed legs of the Boli also show the stillness within the piece. As an individual's gaze progresses upward through the animalistic features found on a Boli, one can see that the Boli has a hump at the top of the "back". This hump may vary in size in different Boli and may also vary slightly in location between them. The Boli can have an extremely vague appearance, lacking definition and precise characteristics. This lack of definition can be explained by the fact that Boli is a form of alter ego. On the outermost layer of the Boli, dark brown mud can be seen which displays a slightly matte finish as light reflects off the piece. The cracks on the surface of the Boli catch the shadows sporadically creating a more definitive line throughout the piece almost as if each crack were a bolt of lightning......middle of the paper......the relationship the Bamana people have with the altar which is the Bolì. It cannot be defined by one specific thing, but by the combination of many procedures and many different variables that fall within those procedures. The Bamana Boli, as we have seen, is a very complicated and very mysterious figure and for this reason has its fair share of believers and skeptics. The figure has a unique assembly where an assortment of materials and combinations of sacrificial materials and substances create and shape the figure. Boli is also used in its rituals where it defends against evil spirits with the nyama contained in the practices of secret societies such as Kono, where it has an effect on the people of every community. The combination of all this gives the Bamana peoples of Mali an ambiguous relationship with the figure of Boli who can be interpreted as good, bad or neutral..