Upper part of a ritual staff "edan oshugbo"

Description

brass, with patina, human head, eyelet with remains of a chain, min. dam., slight traces of corrosion, base;
“edan oshugbo” staffs belong to individual “oshugbo” members who - after approval by an “oshugbo” official - the “apena” - take them home afer their initiation into the “oshugbo” cult. They are kept on the family shrine and they are danced on special occasions. The “edan” might be a single staff or a pair of bronze images male/female mounted on iron spikes and linked by an iron chain.