Two female shrine figures "alusi"
Description
wood, greyish brown patina/camwood powder, kaolin, black paint, both figures nearly identical regarding posture and forming of the bodies, they wear the same ornament (massive foot rings, multi-stranded necklaces), show tribe-typical facial features with notched tattoos on the forehead and coiffures with massive crest-like superstructure and forelocks in shape of concentrical circles, their navels are especially accentuated, the larger figure is coated by a thick layer of camwood powder, the smaller figure lacks that coating, rep. (left arm and vertical crack in the upper part of the body fixed by metal clamps), traces of insect caused damage (both arms) and major (left breast) and minor missing parts (nose, mouth, coiffure), both figures are mounted on metal plates;
these big figures, which often appear in pairs or according to the archetype of a family in a whole group of figures, were kept in sanctuaries or in so-called “m’bari” relaxation rooms for men. They were called “alusi”. Scarification marks and certain attributes specify the rank of the person they represent. This could be venerated ancestors or founding fathers, or deities of the village or the market. For big celebrations they received a new paint and were clothed in typical Igbo costumes.
Since the Igbo don’t have an administrative institution adjusting conflicts between single persons or whole clans, the “alusi” have the task to decide if a complaint is reasonable or not. The respondent has to swear an oath in the sanctuary and the oracle speaks, by making him ill, if he lied.