• Senufo, Ivory Coast

• Early 20th century

• Wood

• Dimensions: 8.75 x 2.75 in. / 22 x 5 cm

• Height on custom display stand: 9.5 in. / 24 cm

Small Senufo statues are known as tugubele, which means spirit, and are used by diviners. Human in form, they represent the bush spirits who inhabit the savanna, forests, fields, and streams around the village. They demand offerings in order to prevent illness or disaster. Often in pairs, they incarnate the primordial couple and form the ideal social unit that respects the lineage of the ancestors (Kerchache, Art of Africa, 1993).

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