Male ancestor figure "adu zatua

Description

wood, paint, pigments, crack (back)

All over Nias, “adu” figures were created as containers for the souls of deceased ancestors. There is a wide range of different types of “adu” figures, they bear different names and have different functions. A clear classification is almost impossible.

This figure could be an “adu zatua” figurine representing a deceased family member.

These figurines were lashed to horizontal bars, which were fixed to the wall in the main room of the house. Whenever a member of the family died, a new image was added, so that rows of figures were created. On the anniversary of the death of each of them, offerings were made to the deceased.

Much has been speculated about the transfer of the soul of the deceased to the “adu zatua”. Acccording to old missionaries reports the last breath of a dying person was captured in a bamboo tube and transferred to an “adu zatua” image.