 The name joins the word "ḿbà" ('nation, town, society') + "rí" ('eat') in reference to the 'festival of life' held after its completion.These votive shrines are typically designed with four columns and a central volt, around the columns are modelled deities, spirits, and depictions of human life, the entire building built out of clay from termite mounds symbolically named "jí" ('yam') by the initiated spirit workers called "ńdí m̀gbè".Ndi mgbe are secluded from the community for a couple of months during the rites of building the mbari to a deity.