Dance Wand for Ṣàngó (osé Ṣàngó)

c. 1930s

Africa, West Africa, Nigeria, Yorùbá-style maker

Medium

Wood, glass beads, colorant, and natural fiber

Measurements

Overall: 38.7 cm (15 1/4 in.)

Credit Line

Gift of Katherine C. White 1974.207

This artwork is known to be under copyright.

Location

Not on view

Description

Dancewands for the thundergod Shango celebrate the power and presence of the divinity. Renowned for his fiery temper, Shango was a powerful warrior king later identified with the thunderous roar and flashing lightning of the storm. The double-bladed stone blade, a key symbol of Shango, is shown at the top. The kneeling female is a follower of Shango. The position of Shango's symbol on the worshipper's head alludes to possession trance when god's spirit enters an individual's inner, spiritual head uniting devotee and deity. The scarification patterns on the double blade repeat on the woman's cheeks to suggest the humanity of the god and the sacredness of the devotee.