Gurunsi Elephant Wood Figure Burkina Faso

Overall Condition: Good. Most of our pieces have spent decades on at least two continents, and have been treasured by several owners.

Damage/Repair: Chip on ear down face, see photos for more detail.

Interesting elephant figure with anthropomorphic and humanistic legs, feet, arms and hands.

In the southwest region of Burkina Faso, numerous smaller groups of farming peoples have often been identified collectively as the Gurunsi. Included in this style region are the Nuna, Nunuma and Lela among others sharing certain common elements of culture and language. This makes definitive classification of their masks a bit difficult. The Nunuma are primarily farmers with an uncomplicated social structure, which in the past has relied upon male elders to exercise social control. Their religion relies upon magical objects and figures that are kept in village and family shrines.

AG1022