African colon figures originated among the Ivory Coast’s Baoulé tribe as an often satirical artistic response to colonisation and European influence. The Baoulé waged one of the longest wars of resistance against French colonisation, and the colon style would achieve international popularity following the second World War. Their hand-carved wooden statues commonly depict a Europeanised African middle class, or stereotypical attributes of European design - official uniforms, suits, tobacco pipes, distinct hairstyles and hats.

The female figure wears a Europeanised hairstyle, her breasts hidden by a bikini-style top. European missionaries would encourage African people to ‘cover up’ in order to instil concepts of puritanism and purdor.