Moba Miniature Figure on Custom Base 8 Inch Togo

The Moba people, also known as the Konkomba, are an ethnic group primarily residing in the northern region of Togo, with some communities extending into Burkina Faso and northern Ghana. Within their cultural practices, diviners often prescribe the use of figures called "tchitcheri sakab" to be placed on shrines dedicated to individuals, clans, or villages.

These figures represent clan ancestors, with the term "sakab" meaning "old man" or "old person." The shrines where these figures are placed are known as tingban and are specifically dedicated to the earth. The Moba people attribute great significance to these ancestral figures and consider them essential in their spiritual practices.

Moba figures come in various sizes, with larger examples sometimes buried in the ground up to their waists near the shrine. These figures are usually carved from light-colored wood. Some of them are given names that correspond to specific ancestors, and on occasion, they may be adorned with clothing or depicted holding miniature farming tools.

The Moba figures exhibit a high degree of abstraction and lack facial features. They also have minimal sexual characteristics, often represented by rudimentary male and female genitalia. It is worth noting that there is no evidence of figure carving among the Moba people over the past century, indicating that this artistic tradition has not been actively practiced in recent times.

The similarity between Moba figures and those found among the Lobi people is intriguing. In Lobi culture, similar figures are buried near family shrines. This resemblance suggests a potential cultural connection or shared influences between these neighboring ethnic groups.