Ancestor figure – Wood – Mumuye – Nigeria

Beautiful ancestor figure from the Mumuye tribe of Nigeria.
Living on the left bank of the Benue River, the 400,000 Mumuye people intensively farm an area of plains.
Mumuye artists are famous for their wooden statues known as Lagalagana. These figures vary from 30 to 160 cm in height and display elongated features and exaggerated ear lobes. Carved by blacksmith or weavers, they are kept in a separate hut located on a family compound, and are entrusted to the family member who has magical powers. The Lagalagana have divination, apotrapaic and rain making functions, and serve as prestige objects.

Provenance: Manfred Schäfer, former gallery owner from Ulm (Germany).

Including professional custom made stand.