Tête anthropomorphe "gle"
Description
terracotta, feathers, cowrie shells, sheet metal,
A “gle” head was a sacred object and was considered a kind of spirit that was consulted especially in divination practices.
The head was modelled from clay to which all kinds of magical substances were added and which was also coated with power-giving substances to fully activate its powers.
It has been observed that a female medium, sitting on a grass mat, carried such a “gle” head on her head. Placed in a trance state, she was able to consult the spirit personified in the “gle” head and solve the problem presented to her. On their journey through the Ivory Coast in 1938, Frans Olbrechts and his travelling companions witnessed a “gle” session. This is documented in a photograph by P. J. Vandenhoute from 1939.
As a result of its success the cult spread among several peoples in the Upper Cavally area. It was then so popular in the Wè area that the cult spirit was compared with the Supreme Being “Nuon Swa”.