ID Number

Title

Item Name

Culture

Material

Date Made

Place Made

Date Collected

Collector

Date Owned

Owner

Acquisition Date

Source

Source

Measurements

Condition

Accession Number

Description

Staff made of thick, stiff strands of dried grass, wrapped with raffia in an open weave to make up the handle. From the bottom protrudes a tuft of raffia, wrapped with a band of woven white fabric and grey plastic twine. Two circular patches of raffia are attached close to the base, topped with cowrie shells arranged in a flower motif. The top of the staff is covered in unbleached cotton, edged with two kinds of braided synthetic banding. Attached to the cotton are three small gourd rattles, also wrapped in open raffia weaving, each with a single cowrie shell and plastic bead decoration. Three lines of cowrie shells are glued to the cotton between the gourds.

Cultural Context

religious; ceremonial

Narrative

This item is part of a set, acquired from the O Mundo dos Orixás shop, Madureira Market, in Rio de Janeiro.

History Of Use

The xaxará is Omulu Obaluayê’s sceptre and is the part of the costume that signals his identity. In performances it is used to sweep away negative energies, diseases and impurities from homes and people.