Five protective figures "bateba"
e) Fred Jahn, Munich, Germany
Wolfgang Nerlich, Munich, Germany
Description
wood, a) left hand up to the mouth, h: 19 cm, black encrusted patina in some areas, minor missing parts, metal plate; b) figure with cowrie snails, h: 16,4 cm, partly encrusted with clay, crack, metal plate; c) female figure with pierced right arm, h: 15,5 cm, metal plate; d) standing figure, h: 11,3 cm, slightly dam.; e) slender figure with pierced right arm, remains of black paint, h: 9,8 cm, wooden plate;
the Lobi distinguish four types of “bateba” protective figures: “bateba phuwe” (the so-called “ordinary bateba”), “bateba bambar” (“paralyzed bateba”), “bateba ti puo” (“dangerous persons”) and “bateba ti bala” (“the extraordinary persons”). Present figures belong to the type of “ordinary bateba”, because they show no special gesture or any physiological symptom. The first “bateba” is a so-called “bateba yadawora” - “sad bateba”. They express deep grief with different gestures and adopt the suffering of their owners.