Extrémité fugurative d'un frappeur "iroke" pour la divination "ifa", 19e siècle
Sotheby’s London, 2 July 1990, Lot 100
Baudouin de Grunne, Wezembeek-Oppem, Belgium
Serge Schoffel, Brussels, Belgium
Description
ivory, pigment, inventory no. “210”, base
Oracle tappers are always surmounted by kneeling female figures. They represent all those, who seek the wisdom “orunmilas” in order to learn more about their own destiny. Since Yoruba women give birth while kneeling, the kneeling figure is also meant as an allusion to the life-giving power of women, on which all human life depends.
“Ifa” is a system of divination through which a person may discern the forces that are shaping his life and learn how to respond to them.
The deity to whom divination is directed is “orunmila”, the “orisha” who was present at the creation of the universe and knows its secret.
At the beginning of each divination session, the “ifa” priest needs the “iroke” to invoke the primordial diviner “babalawo” and the divine powers (“orunmila”) to participate in the following rituals by rhythmically striking the divination board “opon ifa” and chanting prayers.
The “ifa” figures, lateron used for soothsaying, were marked with wood flour “iyerosun” (produced by termites) spread on the tray.
Littérature comparée
Homberger, Lorenz (Hg.), Yoruba, Zürich 1991, p. 22 f. Fagg, William, Yoruba, Sculpture of West Africa, New York 1982, p. 172 f.Publications
Schoffel, Serge, "Orisha Yoruba", Brussels, 2019, p. 28-29AHDRC: 0102559
Exposition
Brussels, Belgium, BRAFA - Brussels Antiques & Fine Arts Fair, 26 January - 3 February 2019Remarques
This object is subject to CITES. Please note that it can only be sent within the European Union. At the present time export in third countries is prohibited, respectively, export licenses in third countries for objects containing or made of protected materials are only granted under stringent conditions.