Afo Seated Female Nigeria 32 Inch

A well carved seated female figure. The surface shows traces of extensive use and good age. This sculpture carefully carved recalls the style of the Afo people who live in the north of Nigeria. The Afo style is recognized here by the incision or striations on the woman's face and body. The hairstyle, the face shape as well as the facial features are also of Afo style. The stance and position of the figure sitting on a carved stool and the theme of a womanb is also common among the Afo sculpture. Large figure like this were used for the community and dedicate to the ancestors. They were kept by the village leader and displayed once per year at the village palace were prayers, sacrifices and offerings were conducted in order to get blessings from the ancestors, the figure is supposed to represent. Large maternity figures are considered ancestral mothers to whom living go to beg fertility and fecundity for themselves and for their lands. When not being used the figure was kept in the village shrine.

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