Divination Gourd Tikar Tribal Wood Carved Figure

Divination Gourd - Wood - Tikar - Cameroon 2nd half 20th century - Used ca. 1970 28 cm 310g This divination gourd from Cameroon was in use until about 1970. It is fragile, has been torn in many places due to use (see photos). It was brought from Cameroon by a French collector. For the Tikar of Cameroon, "divination" is much more about healing and protection than the future. It is up to the soothsayer (the initiate) to "feel" which "spirits" are at work, for example in the case of illness or fever, with the help of ointments and various magical mixtures. The mixtures are carried in a hollowed gourd, which the diviner can leave with the person he is visiting after activating his magical power through incantations and smoke. The shaped cork represents the guardian spirit to which we will turn... its wooden stem soaks the mixture and draws its energy from it. Once used and its magical power exhausted, the gourd is discarded. Insured shipping worldwide Thank you so much for visiting AfricaArtSpirit, your mystery portal to the best kept treasures of Africa. Explore all our collections at: https://www.ballwool.com/shop/africaartspirit Feel free to get in touch if you have any questions or wish to learn more about any of our pieces from our special art collection. Thank you so much!