Figurative slit gongs are found in only a few societies in Africa, and they are always from the context of serious ritual performance. Among the Mbembe, it is said that these large slit gongs were used in male initiations, during biannual military ceremonies, and as altars on which offerings were made. The latter may explain why these large gongs are usually disintegrated. Most old eroded examples of this type of object retain only the figurative finial, usually a seated figure. The entire gong is carved from a single piece of wood, with elaborate incised decoration, and, in this case, a large finial in the form of a human torso with the arms clutching the neck.