Female puppet

Description

wood, polychrome paint, cloth, with hinged jaw, holding a child diagonal in front of the body, probably there once was a cloth bonnet attached on the backside (small holes), fine cracks, slight traces of abrasion;
the Ogoni borrowed the art of puppetry from the Ibibio and adapted it to fit preexisting patterns of social criticism. This puppet probably depicts a young girl going through the initiation process. During this period adolescent females are spoilt and fed abundantly to enhance their appearance and assure their health and fertility.