Tribal Art

Lobi Bateba phuwé statue (N° 21466)

Depicted head-on, with arms placed along the bust, this Lobi figure has a sunken head with a serious face. The large closed eyelids have been treated horizontally like the mouth. This ancient wooden sculpture, the Bateba, was placed on the altar after a ritual to become the receptacle of a bush spirit, the Thil, and thus become an active being, an intermediary who fights against sorcerers and all other harmful forces. The golden patina is particularly lustrous. Small xylophagous damage stopped.
When honored, these spirits manifest their benevolence in the form of abundant rains, good health, numerous births; Ignored, they withdraw it and bring devastating epidemics, drought and suffering. These spirits convey to the diviners the laws that followers must follow to receive their protection. They are represented by wooden or copper sculptures called Bateba ( large or small, figurative or abstract, they adopt different attitudes that symbolize the particular power or talent that the spirit uses to protect its owners). These figurines are placed on tombs, in a dark corner of the owners' house, along with many other sculptures embodying other spirits because it takes a large number of them to deal with the many threats of rural West Africa.
Source : "Sculptures des Trois Volta" Massa et Lauret .