Equestrian figure "syonfolo" ·  Côte d'Ivoire, Senufo · ID: 3047919

Description

wood, pigments, base

The reason for the production of equestrian representations was the trauma caused to the Senufo by the hordes of horsemen of Samori Touré who once invaded the country.

From then on, riders and horses were associated with power and violence, with a claim to leadership, with fortitude, and later also with wealth. According to Glaze, equestrian figures are also called “fanhafolo”, which means “owner of power”.

Equestrian figures were used for divination. They were also considered a symbol for the bush spirits “tugubele”.

Comparing literature

Burkhard, Gottschalk, Senufo - Unbekannte Schätze aus privaten Sammlungen, Düsseldorf 2009, p. 65