carving, Shango dance wand. kneeling female on rectangular self-base/wand. she holds each of her breasts in her hands. a solid thunderaxe sits atop her head with 2 cross shapes. 1 on each side. hair is brought up to the back of the head in 4 sections. where the sections meet there is a round center piece of hair. carved line representing the spine on her back. the bottom of her toes are visible in the back. left ear sits higher than the right ear. 3 horizontal scarification marks on each cheek and 3 vertical ones on forehead. holes for pupils in eyes. some damage to the face. 4 carved bracelets on each wrist. beaded necklaces and belly button. bottom of handle is damaged and uneven. incision on belly above belly button. 45.5 cm tall.
Donor:
Berta Bascom
Collection place:
Nigeria
Verbatim coll. place:
West Africa, Nigeria, Yoruba; Purchased from Saja Tunkara
Culture or time period:
Yoruba
Collector:
Berta Bascom and William Russell Bascom
Collection date:
1970
Materials:
Wood (plant material)
Object type:
ethnography
Object class:
Carvings (visual works)
Function:
5.1 Religion and Divination: Objects and garb associated with practices reflecting submission, devotion, obedience, and service to supernatural agencies
Accession date:
December 15, 1995
Context of use:
the woman depicted is likely a Shango worshipper. Shango is the orisha of thunder and lightning. he is typically a violent god, and requires violent acts. he was the 4th king of ancient Oyo before becoming an orisha. kneeling and lifting the breasts is a gesture of greeting of offering and acceptance. from Fagg, William and John Pemberton, YORUBA: SCULPTURE OF WEST AFRICA, 1982.