Yoruba Female Shango Cult Figure

This piece is a large wooden female figure kneeling on a flared base with a round top with slanted lines around the narrow side and a small child on her back. Her arms are down at the sides with wrist bracelets and with large fingered hands holding a battle-ax with geometric motifs.

The top of her head features a large battle-ax with incised lines and geometric designs. Her head is oval-shaped with a long oval hair style on the back of the head. Also, there are tribal scarification marks on her face and forehead.

This figure is of the African Yoruba People of Nigeria and is referred to as a dance wand to be held on the indentation of the base; the figure is also considered a staff.

The staff was carried in ceremonies and dances to honor Shango. The woman with child is an archetypal Yoruba theme. Her nudity and kneeling pose suggests humility before a deity in a ritual setting. Children, like the one carried on her back, are considered to be blessings given from the god in return for devotion. Many figures have only one ax, which represents the thunderbolts hurled by the god to punish wrongdoers.

This piece is fixed to a square black wooden base and would be perfect for a range of décor styles from Mid-Century Modern, 1970s Revival, Contemporary or Eclectic.   

Place of Origin: Nigeria

Date of Manufacture: 1940s-1950s 

Condition: Excellent 

Wear: There are chips and a crack on the figure which are consistent with age. Please refer to the pictures.

Dimensions:

Carving: 22 in. H X 7 in. W X 7 in. D / Base: 7 in. L X 7 in. W X 2 in. H / Total: 24 in. H