Oracle bowl "agere ifa" ·  Nigeria, Yoruba · ID: 3037142

Description

wood, brown patina, remains of pigments, equestrian figure with spear supporting the bowl, min. dam., missing parts through insect caused damage, slight traces of usage;
divination bowls serve for keeping the 16 holy nuts (“ikin”), which are used for the questioning of the oracle. During the prophecy, the “babalawo” (priest) spreads the “opon ifa” with flour, throws the palm nuts on the board and generates the oracle from the lines drawn on the plate.

Expertise

Karl-Ferdinand Schädler, 22.04. 2003, Munich

Comparing literature

Eisenhofer, Stefan (Hg.), Kulte, Künstler, Könige in Afrika, Linz 1997, p. 195, ill. III/1.3