Double figure
Not on view
This tall and narrow sculpture features two abstract figures arranged one above the other to form a vertical continuum. The lower figure stands firmly with bent knees and arms at its sides. On its head sits the smaller figure, which raises both dramatically oversized arms toward the sky, a gesture that may represent a prayer for rain or appeal for ancestral intervention. Similar creations often served as finials on ritual staffs or as markers at the entrances of houses, to honor family lineage and to bring protection. In this example, the stacked figures express the idea of continuity between generations. The raised arms celebrate renewal and the care of the community, while the lower figure provides a stable foundation representing the strength of the ancestors.
Sandro Capo Chichi, Research Associate, Arts of Africa, 2025
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