Large power figure "bochio" ·  Benin, Fon · ID: 3040303

Description

wood, encrusted brown patina, sacrificial traces, arm- and legless torso, the neck wrapped with strings of plant fibre, metal padlocks and small package with animal bones attached, coiffure with remains of real hair, rodent skull, min. dam., cracks, traces of abrasion, small missing parts, base;
metal objects are particularly “strong”. They invoke the Vodun “gu”, the god of iron, technology and the violence of war. Padlocks enable to “lock up” evil forces, or shut them up in an iron ring.

Comparing literature

Boudre, Daniel, Fetiches de l'ancienne Cote des Esclaves, Toulouse 2014, p. 147