Standing female figure "tugubele" ·  Côte d'Ivoire, Senufo · ID: 3034479

Description

wood, dark brown patina, carved with bracelets and scarification marks, slightly dam. (crested coiffure), paint rubbed off, traces of insect caused damage (left foot), socle;
such small human figures belong to single persons, mainly soothsayers. They are indispensable for getting into contact with the “tugubele”, the small invisible and omnipresent bush spirits. The “tugubele” promise to help their human partners, when they are appreciated accordingly, which means that a figure has to be carved, representing them. Just like the bush spirits such figures are called “tugubele”.