Protective figure "bateba duntundara"

wood, pigments, base

Female figures whose heads are conspicuously turned to the side and which also show the belly of a pregnant woman with a particularly emphasised navel are often part of a male-female pair of figures.

These figures belong to the group of "bateba duntundara", which are supposed to protect their owners from witches and evil spirits.

"Duntundara" can be found in a broad range of representations, including figures that gesture dramatically or feature unusual physiological characteristics such as multiple heads or arms.