BAULE Simian Statue (Rare Variant)

A wooden simian figure (57 cm) attributed to the 19th century from the Baule of the Ivory Coast — standing upright rather than squatting, with a swollen pregnant-like abdomen, its hand resting on its belly, and no sacrificial cup.

1. The anomaly in the canon

Among Mbotumbo figures, this one is unusual enough to merit its own attention.

• Upright Posture: Instead of the characteristic squat, this simian stands almost human-like — closer to a hominid stance than a monkey's crouch.
• No Cup: The absence of the standard sacrificial bowl breaks the defining pattern of the type, suggesting that this figure may have served a different or more specialized function.

2. The swollen belly

The pregnant-like abdomen is the visual key to the figure's purpose.

• Fertility Meets Bush Magic: The combination of simian wildness with gestational swelling suggests a commission addressing a very specific crisis — one that fused fertility, digestive affliction, or bewitchment of the womb.
• Hand on Stomach: The self-touching gesture focuses attention on the belly, making it the figure's thematic and ritual center.

3. Attributed 19th-century status

Pre-colonial survival and thematic rarity combine.

• Surviving the Forest: To remain intact from the 19th century in the Ivorian climate, this figure was likely carefully preserved within a diviner's shrine.
• Iconographic Rarity: The anomalous iconography and deep patina together suggest a notable place among surviving Baule bush-spirit sculptures.

Summary

This Baule simian represents an unusual variant of its type. Standing upright with a swollen belly and no cup, it suggests a specialized function blending fertility and bush magic — an uncommon example within the Mbotumbo tradition.