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BOBO/KORO Shrine Power Figure
A deeply eroded, highly abstracted wooden figure (19th C., 97 cm) from the Bobo/Koro of Burkina Faso, featuring a disc-like head and a heavily encrusted dark earthy patina.
1. Static Anchors vs. Kinetic Masks
While the Bobo are famous for their dynamic, brightly painted wooden masks (see collection Nrs. 49, 55, 60), they also produce static shrine statuary.
- The Earth Shrine: Masks move through the village; shrine figures are stationary. This figure was planted into the earth or placed inside a dark sanctuary, acting as an anchor that permanently pinned the protective power of the ancestors to the physical location of the family compound.
2. 19th Century Provenance
Dating to the 19th century, this piece predates significant colonial influence in the region. Its highly abstract, almost featureless geometric body is a testament to the ancient sculptural traditions of the Voltaic peoples. The thick, crumbling patina proves generations of ritual use.
Summary
This Bobo/Koro shrine figure is an ancient battery of spiritual power. Nearly a meter tall and stripped of fine detail by a century of sacrifice and weathering, it stands as a testament to the deep, localized earth-cults of Burkina Faso.