Standing female figure "tugubele" ·  Côte d'Ivoire, Senufo · ID: 3042597

Description

wood, dark brown patina, without feet rising from conical base, typical posture, facial features and scarification marks, dam., missing parts (upper arm, breast), traces of abrasion, base.
Such 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”.