Female "shango" shrine figure with shaman's bag "laba"

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Description

wood, reddish brown patina, slightly dam. (right forearm), cracks, abrasion of paint.

The female figure represents a “shango” priest wearing a leather shoulder bag, the “laba shango”. “Shango” priests receive a “laba” when they take office. When they were officiating on ritual occasions, they carry important cult objects such as celts, or “thunderbolts”, and rattles in the bag. A comparable male figure can be found in the Tishman Collection (Vogel, 1981, p. 106).

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Comparing literature

Vogel, Susan, For spirits and kings, African Art from the Paul and Ruth Tishman Collection, New York 1981, p. 106 f.

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Publications

AHDRC: 0150554

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