Accession Number
2001/2.25

Title
Staff

Artist(s)
Senufo

Artist Nationality
Senufo (culture or style)

Object Creation Date
circa 1950

Medium & Support
wood

Dimensions
31 1/2 in x 6 in x 2 1/4 in (80 cm x 15.2 cm x 5.8 cm)

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

Subject matter
The form of this staff is reminiscent of that of Senufo horizontal masks, which represent a composite image of a number of different elements. Among the various ethnic groups identified with the general term Senufo, staffs such as this one stand as emblems of the farming skills of their owners. Young men would compete in hoeing competitions as a way to prepare for their entrance into the farmers's secret society called Poro. A carved pole would be placed near the head of the line of young men, next to the most succesful hoers. Winners of the competition would receive a carved wooden or an iron staff to commemorate their success; these staffs would be proudly displaced at later agricultural competitions and ultimately at the owner's funeral.

Physical Description
A stylized animal head, with an elongated open mouth and horizontally positioned, flat ears, sits atop a staff with decorative carvings along the shaft.

Primary Object Classification
Costume and Costume Accessories

Primary Object Type
staff

Additional Object Classification(s)
Ritual Object

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
Animals
ceremonial staffs
head
heads (animal components)
staff