Double figure "bateba ti bala" ·  Burkina Faso, Lobi · ID: 3033851

Description

wood, dark brown patina, two half figures sharing one lower part of the body, min. dam., cracks, missing parts through insect caused damage, abrasion, on wooden base;
presumably depicting a kind of Siamese twin. Thus belonging to the so-called “extraordinary people” (“ti bala”), showing unusal physical features. Such “batebas” are said to have special power. The Lobi believed that an unusual outward appearance is equivalent with unusual talents and skills.