Anthropomorphic bowl-bearing monkey figure "amuin" or "amuin ba"
Description
wood, strongly encrusted blackish-brown patina, remains of a loincloth from grass fibre and indigo blue fabric, monkey-like skull structure, small bowl with remains of mass, rich sacrificial traces, above all on the head (mass, feathers, vegetal material), slightly dam., missing parts (left foot/base), rep. (right foot), traces of insect caused damage (above all on the backside, right hip), cracks (left side of the head, breast), rest., base.
Such figures generally were called “gbekre”. But the Baule word “gbekre” means “mouse” and should be avoided when referencing Baule bowl-bearers. According to newer research it is used “amuin” or “amuin ba”. The primary role of an “amuin” was protective, but frequent and appropriate veneration was essential for the force not to turn against its beneficiaries. “Amuin” figures required blood sacrifices, for it was “with blood that fetishes become powerful”. The bowl-bearers received animal sacrifices. They were housed in a secret shelter that was built for the cult in a sacred grove in the bush, not too far from the village.
Holas identified four cults relying on bowl-bearing monkey figures: “aboya”, “mbotumbo”, “gbokro kofi” and “ndyadan”. Boyer referred to a bowl-bearer of the “dwa” cult (Claessens, 2016). A clear classification is nearly impossible, once the figures have left their place of origin.