bag/ satchel, divining; glass bead outer face shows a diviner on horseback carrying his iron staff in his right hand w/ his head covered with a cloth (as protection against the sun). in foreground is a divining tray w/ Eshu's face at the top and with the figure Ogbe Meji marked on it; various colors on green ground; black glass bead tassels; white cotton patching panel has full pocker; indigo striped and embroidered shoulder strap; w. bag 27.5 cm.
Donor:
Berta Bascom
Collection place:
Agana, Benue State, Nigeria
Verbatim coll. place:
Africa; Nigeria; Agana; Yoruba; made by Araba
Culture or time period:
Yoruba
Maker or artist:
Araba
Collector:
Berta Bascom and William Russell Bascom
Collection date:
March 1938
Materials:
Cotton (textile) and Glass (material)
Object type:
ethnography
Object class:
Bags (generic containers)
Function:
5.1 Religion and Divination: Objects and garb associated with practices reflecting submission, devotion, obedience, and service to supernatural agencies
Context of use:
for carrying divining chain and an assortment of misc. objects that serve as symbols of specific alternatives incl. cowries and other kinds of shells, vertebra and other small bones, horns and teeth, and etc. the whole of these objects and the divining chain are referred to as 'abiri', and the divining bag is called 'apo abira' or 'apo Ifa', the bag of accessories or the bag of Ifa. Bascom's notes say made ca. Oct. 1935. "Black horseman, wearing cloth to protect him from sun, and carrying Ifa staff ('irere'?) w/ bells ('aja'). below an Ifa tray ('oponfa') w/ face of Eshu and the figure Eji Ogbe. red beads are those of Eshu; made by Araba.
Department:
Africa (except Ancient Egypt)
Dimensions:
width 27.5 centimeters
Comment:
Illustrated: Handbook of West African Art, 1953, pl.19 left.Illustrated, Bascom Ifa Divination, 1969, Pl. 4A & Sp.32.Photos: Whitney Halsted’s slides, # 119.B/W photo stored with Bascom Collection Index C ard FileSlide. PAHMA Storage Loc: W-15-5