Staff Item Number: 3326/17 from the MOA: University of British Columbia

Description

Nude female figure standing on a tall cylindrical base. The female holds her arms down at her side, has a protruding abdomen, and large pointed breasts. The figure is covered in white dots and orange pigment which has collected in the grooves. She has large bulging eyes, and three vertical marks on each cheek. On her head she wears some sort of headdress, which has deteriorated and is not complete. The cylindrical base is also deteriorated with notable insect damage.

History Of Use

Shango staff; used in Ifa ceremony.

Narrative

Assumed to have been collected by Lieber while he was living in Nigeria (1965-1970), lecturing at the University of Ibadan under the auspices of CIDA.