Standing male figure "tadep"

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Description

light wood, black, white and red paint, torso with bulging stomach and extremely short arms, egg-shaped head with a vaulted facial plane, dam., rep. (left heel), traces of insect caused damage, small missing parts, cracks, slight traces of abrasion, base;
used during healing rituals as well as being employed in casting spells to find a thief and cause him to fall ill. The culprit can then only recover if he admits his guilt and repairs the damage done. The statue was also an essential component in fertility rites. The figure definitely does not portray an ancestor. The local name of such sculptures would be “tadep”. Usually these were male-female pairs.

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Publications

Van de Velde, Lucien & Joanna Teunen, From Benue River to Niger Delta, Antwerp 2012

AHDRC: 0096773

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Exposition

Winter BRUNEAF, Brussels 2009

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