Ancestor figure "adu zatua"

Description

wood, handwritten collection no. “59.50”, base

On the whole island of Nias, wooden ancestor statues called “adu zatua” used to be made after a parent passed away and kept as representations of the deceased person. Nias people believed that the spirit of their ancestors still remained inside the wooden sculpture. An old traditional house could contain many such statues.

Smaller “adu zatua” figures, such as the one shown here, were fixed to the wall in the main room of the house. Whenever a member of the family died, a new image was added, so that rows of figures were created. On the anniversary of the death of each of them, offerings were made to the deceased.