carving, divination tapper. kneeling female figure holding her breasts on round self-base with curved, tapered handle. finish is somewhat rough. shoulder blades and spine are defined, as are the bottom of her toes and feet under her buttocks. breasts are pointed and low on her torso. she has prominent eye lids and stylized ears set back on her head. hair is incised with overlapping zig-zag marks. jagged row of hair in the middle sticks out from hair line to base of head. angular features. zig-zag pattern on outside of base. 29 cm tall.
Donor:
Berta Bascom
Collection place:
Igana, Oyo State, Nigeria
Verbatim coll. place:
Africa; Nigeria; Yoruba; Baba Alawode, Iganna
Culture or time period:
Yoruba
Collector:
Berta Bascom and William Russell Bascom
Collection date:
1938
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:
used by the Babalawo during divination. the babalawo taps the pointed end of the tapper against the side of the divining tray to attract the attention of Ifa or Orunmila to increase the success of divination. divination is extremely important in the lives of Yoruba. the gesture of the female has been related to kneeling in traditional Yoruba life, which normally signifies submission to authority and salutation in a social context. (Thompson, R.F., BLACK GODS AND KINGS, 1976: CH5/3-4)