Ritual staff "opa orere" or "opa osun" ·  Nigeria, Yoruba · ID: 3045093

Description

iron, acrylic base

The “opa osun” is used by Yoruba “babalawos” (diviners) as a symbol of office but also as an altar to the divination god “Orunmila”.

When not in use, the staff is stuck into the ground in front of the “babalawo’s” house to protect him while he sleeps.

The object Ritual staff “opa orere” or “opa osun” with the object ID 3045093 was last part of the auction 91 Tribal Art Auction at March 9, 2019 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house. The object with the lot number 261 achieved a sales price of EUR 500.

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Comparing literature

Eisenhofer, Stefan (Hg.), Kulte, Künstler, Könige in Afrika, Linz 1997, p. 230 ff.