Seated figure "bateba bambar"/"bateba ti bala" ·  Burkina Faso, Lobi · ID: 3035753

Description

wood, slightly encrusted brown patina, showing two heads and characteristics of both sexes, min. dam., slight traces of abrasion;
a mixture of the type of “paralyzed bateba” - “bateba bambar” (because they cannot move, they have to watch the house) and “extraordinary people” (“ti bala”), showing unusal physical features. Such “batebas” are said to have special power. The Lobi believe that an unusual outward appearance is equivalent with unusual talents and skills.