Accession Number
2001/2.22

Title
Dance Staff

Artist(s)
Yoruba

Artist Nationality
Yoruba (culture or style)

Object Creation Date
20th century

Medium & Support
wood with leather

Dimensions
9 3/4 in x 2 7/16 in x 2 3/16 in (24.8 cm x 6.2 cm x 5.5 cm)

Credit Line
Gift of Margaret H. and Albert J. Coudron

Subject matter
Like many other objects related to various Yoruba orisas or gods, the figure in this staff, called oshe Shango, is not the orisa but a depiction of one of his followers. The god of thunder and lightning, Shango was an ancient king of the Yoruba kingdom of Oyo. The double axe shape at the top of the staff represented neolithic stone celts, thought to be thunderstones hurled to earth by Shango during storms. Zig-zag patterns were also associated with Shango, found on the handle of this staff. The double faces on each side may represent twins, as Shango is also known as Baba Ibeji, the father of twins. When not used by a priest or priestess of Shango, who carried the staff in dances during ceremonial events, it would have remained at the shrine for powerful but paradoxical orisa. Thunderstorms, thought to be caused by Shango, brought necessary rain as well as destructive lightning and wind.

References Cited: 
Drewal, Henry John, John Pemberton and Rowland O. Abiodun. 1989. Yoruba: Nine Centuries of African Art and Thought. New York: Center for African Art.
Lawal, Babatunde. 2012. Visions of Africa: Yoruba. Milan: 5 Continents Editions.
Thompson, Robert Farris. 1983. Flash of the Spirit: African and Afro-American Art and Philosophy. New York: Random House.
 

Physical Description
Staff with a cylindrical handle, decorated with zig-zag patterns, and a disc-shaped grip at the bottom. The top of the staff has two identical faces on both sides, surmounted by a double axe shaped form. 

Primary Object Classification
Sculpture

Primary Object Type
staff

Collection Area
African

Rights
If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit http://umma.umich.edu/request-image for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form. Keywords
ceremonial objects
destruction (process)
double axes
fertility
head
lightning
staff
thunderstorms
wands