Accession Number
2001/2.43

Title
Staff

Artist(s)
Igbo

Artist Nationality
Igbo (Southern Nigerian style, culture)

Object Creation Date
20th century

Medium & Support
wood

Dimensions
21 7/16 in x 4 1/8 in x 2 in (54.4 cm x 10.5 cm x 5 cm);21 7/16 in x 4 1/8 in x 2 in (54.4 cm x 10.5 cm x 5 cm)

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

Subject matter
This may be an ikenga-related staff. Shrine figures, called ikenga, embodied Igbo ideas of personal achievements and individuality. These figures usually belonged to men, as their form expressed ideals of masculinity: warfare, aggression, and physical accomplishment. Horns that project from the top of the ikenga signify strength and power, as do the weapons held by many figures. Around the time of marriage men would receive their ikenga and would honor them before undertaking imporant events. The face on the staff and the columnar body are similar to ikenga figures, as are the 'horns' formed by the two open, inverted triangles. 

References Cited: 
Cole, Herbert M. 2012. Invention and Tradition: The Art of Southeastern Nigeria. Munich: Prestel.
Cole, Herbert M. 2013. Visions of Africa: Igbo. Milan: 5 Continents Editions. 

Physical Description
Staff with a short, pointed handle. The top of the handle is surmounted by a rectangle with two inverted triangles. Underneath the triangles is a small face and a neck with four raised grooves.  

Primary Object Classification
Wood and Woodcarving

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
ancestors
communication (function)
deities
men (male humans)
personal shrines
power
spirits (beings)
staff