Africa, Ivory Coast, Senufo peoples, ca. early to mid 20th century CE. An interesting example of a "kafigeledjo" (oracle figure) from the Ivory Coast. The figure is tall with abstract anthropomorphic features, with cowrie shells comprising its eyes and mouth and wispy feathers for hair. From each sloping shoulder droops an elongated, wooden-core arm wrapped in rough-textured fabric, and the body and legs are of similar composition. Beige- and orange-hued spotted adornments are painted across all mud-coated surfaces, with those on the verso displaying more vibrant pigments than their obverse counterparts. Size: 27.5" H (69.8 cm).

The kafigeledjo are created and used by Senufo divination specialists so as to provoke a sense of anxiety and guilt in those who have committed wrongdoings but have yet to be punished. Some of the most quixotic of all African works of art, kafigeledjo figures are consulted to determine the specific misdeeds and untruths perpetuated by those of lower moral standards within society.

Literally translating to “he whom speaks the truth,” the name “kafigeledjo” applied to both the shrouded figures themselves as well as the actual truth-seeking ceremony conducted by the spiritual elders. Depending on the crime committed, an individual's punishment may only be superficial in the physical sense, but rather extreme as far as the penalty against one’s soul or prospects in the afterlife are concerned. Due to the perceived magnitude of the kafigeledjo's powers, only elder, more-experienced Senufo diviners are allowed to lay eyes on the figure let alone consult its nebulous wisdom.

For further discussions on Kafigeledjo figures, please see: LaGamma, Alisa. Art and Oracle: African Art and Rituals of Divination. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000, p. 23 - 26.

Provenance: private New York, New York, USA collection

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Age-commensurate surface wear, fading to pigmentation, fraying to some areas of textile, with some loosening to stitching, otherwise intact and excellent. Nice earthen deposits throughout.