Tchitcheri ancestor figure - Moba - Togo
The Tchitcheri can only be fashioned by the individuals whose fathers are soothsayers. Shaping Tchitcheri is considered a delicate and very dangerous operation. For this reason, only diviners give their sons the special protection required for the creation of such statues. Those who transgress this law are supposed to risk blindness or madness. There are 3 main types of Tchitcheri: The smallest Tchitcheri Yendu, are placed in the tombs. They do not represent any particular person or ancestor but are the direct link of an individual with the deity. The medium-sized Bawoong Tchitcheri (between 25 and 90 cm high) are designed for family tombs. They represent recent ancestors. Finally, the Tchitcheri Sakwa, larger than a meter, evoke the memory of the founder of a clan.
00121
Data sheet
- Presumed dating
- Mid XXth century
- Size
- 37 x 8 cm
- Ethnic group
- Material(s)
- Wood
- Country
- Origin
- Tribal art collection France
You might also like
The Tchitcheri can only be fashioned by the individuals whose fathers are soothsayers. Shaping Tchitcheri is considered a delicate and very dangerous operation. For this reason, only diviners give their sons the special protection required for the creation of such statues. Those who transgress this law are supposed to risk blindness or madness. There are 3 main types of Tchitcheri: The smallest Tchitcheri Yendu, are placed in the tombs. They do not represent any particular person or ancestor but are the direct link of an individual with the deity. The medium-sized Bawoong Tchitcheri (between 25 and 90 cm high) are designed for family tombs. They represent recent ancestors. Finally, the Tchitcheri Sakwa, larger than a meter, evoke the memory of the founder of a clan.