Beaded necklace "odigba ifa" ·  Nigeria, Yoruba · ID: 3049133

Description

fabric, polychrome glass beads, cord material,

The “odigba ifa”, an elaborate multistrand beaded necklace with two beaded pouches, marks the diviners “babalawo” as important leaders who are comparable to rulers.

The use of colorful glass beads adds luster to the divination session and underlines the high status diviners enjoy in Yoruba society.

In the beaded pouches “apo” at both ends are sewn certain substances for the protection and power of the “babalawo”.

The object Beaded necklace “odigba ifa” with the object ID 3049133 was last part of the auction 99th Auction at November 12, 2022 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house. The object with the lot number 137 achieved a sales price of EUR 500.

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Comparing literature

Drewal, Henry John & John Mason, Beads, Body and Soul, Los Angeles 1998, p. 234