Male figure "tugubele" · 

Côte d'Ivoire, Senufo · ID: 3032406

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Description

wood, black patina, star-shaped earrings of silver metal sheet, slightly dam., minor missing parts, paint rubbed off, on base;
the “tugubele” always appear in pairs of male and female. They are helping spirits of the soothsayers, who make sacrifices in return for their help and to keep them well-disposed. The “tugubele” are nearly omniscent. Nothing happens without reason, for coincidence is not existent. But as they are not able to be everywhere, they are supported by the chameleon, the small water turtle and the python, which has the most significant part. The snake is the patron of the “tugubele” and they are his messengers.

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Comparing literature

Burkhard, Gottschalk, Senufo - Unbekannte Schätze aus privaten Sammlungen, Düsseldorf 2009, p. 40 f.

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