Figural fragment ·  Mali, Dogon · ID: 3037864

Description

wood, small remains of greyish brown patina, narrow head with arrow-shaped nose and projecting chin, the neck wrapped with leather straps and spread with a clay-like greyish mass (probably for fixing), the body extremely fragmentary, the originally raised arms only preserved in stumps and both legs missing, surface structure with strong traces of weathering, base;
the gesture with the raised arms had been said to indicate the communication between the earth and heaven, specifically a prayer for rain, an essential commodity in the arid environment in which the Dogon people lived. Sacrifices to elicit rain are made on altars called “andugo”, which are dedicated to the spiritual being “nommo”, who is present in all water, including rain.