Staff Item Number: 3326/20 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Staff or dance wand. Wooden carving depicting a male figure standing next to a sacrificial ram. The figure holds a double axe in his right hand. His elongated head sits at an angle on his short neck. He has large almond eyes, and six horizontal lines on each cheek. Extending up from his head is a large ornate double axe-shaped headdress that curves down to points on each side. The figures stand on a square platform with carved diagonal lines around the sides and a plain cylindrical handle beneath.
History Of Use
Shango staff. A dual personality known as a dancer and the energy of thunder, Shango originally took the form of a despotic human general. He is also known as the divinity of thunder and lightning; identifiable by his axe. Shango is historically a royal ancestor of the Yoruba and was the third king of the Oyo Kingdom before his posthumous deification. This orixá is the centre piece of the Lukumà religion of the Caribbean and is called Olokun mi ("my dear one"), as he represents the Oyo people of west Africa, the symbolic ancestors of all adherents of the faith.
Narrative
Assumed to have been collected by Lieber while he was living in Nigeria (1965-1970), lecturing at the University of Ibadan under the auspices of CIDA.
Item History
- Made in Nigeria
- Collected between 1965 and 1970
- Owned by Jack Lieber before 2015
- Owned by Iris Lieber before June 18, 2018
- Received from Iris Lieber (Donor) on June 18, 2018
What
Who
- Culture
- Yoruba
- Previous Owner
- Jack Lieber and Iris Lieber
- Received from
- Iris Lieber (Donor)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- Nigeria
When
- Collection Date
- between 1965 and 1970
- Ownership Date
- before 2015 and before June 18, 2018
- Acquisition Date
- on June 18, 2018
Other
- Condition
- good
- Accession Number
- 3326/0020