It may represent N'gle, the bat spirit, a symbol associated with the komo society lead by the smith caste. The carver-smith is more than an artisan and creator of supernatural objects. He transforms life and matter through his control over nyama. At the scientific level, the smith has at his disposal a considerable knowledge of herbal medicines and treatments. It is a little known fact that smallpox inoculation was used in Africa long before the procedure was discovered in Europe.
Smiths are the village doctors and surgeons.
Magical power is used to prepare charms to protect individuals from harm, or cast a spell over a lover. These charms, called gris-gris in West Africa, often adorn the shirts of hunters and provide them with magical protection and hunting success. Social and political power is utilized and transmitted by the smith through the secret initiation societies. The smiths belong to one of the most powerful and sacred of these societies, the komo, and are a directing force behind the activities of the remaining five groups. The head of komo supervises the rituals which form new age groups and smiths perform the critical circumcision operations which mark the transition from child to adult.