Pair of figures
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Lot: 103
Timed Online Auction: Collector's Item SalePair of figures
Nigeria, Mbembe / Boki
| Provenance | Size | Starting price / estimated price |
|---|---|---|
| Wolfgang Klein, Vienna, Austria | H: 13.4 inch/ 13.8 inch | This object is not available anymore. |
wood, base
The Mbembe people live in the Ogoja province, along the banks of the middle Cross River and Awayong creek. The men of the village belong to two important associations, one of which is secular - "okowa" - and the other ritual - "ocheika".
The Mbembe believe in the Surpreme Being - "ibinokpabi" - but they also whorship their ancestors "afranong". The "afranong" can only be contacted through the intermediary of spiritual beings "oka". The wooden figures were hidden in the homesteads and worshipped privately by individual families.
