Object Name: Male shrine figure
Place of Origin: Nigeria
Cultural Group: Urhobo peoples
Materials Used: Wood and pigment
Dimensions: H: 130.8 cm, W: 42.6 cm (H: 51 in, W: 16.7 in)
Credit line and Accession Number: Fowler Museum at UCLA. Gift of Mrs. W. Thomas Davis, in memory of W. Thomas Davis. X76.1856

Accouterments such as beads worn low on the shoulders, a top hat, and thick ivory cuffs emphasize this spirit’s position as a titled leader, rather than suggesting military power and aggression. In contrast, the medicine gourd worn prominently on the chest demonstrates the figure’s possession of powerful, herbal medicines that guarantee his invincibility in battle.

Source: Anderson, Martha G. and Peek, Philip M. ed. (2002): “Ways of the Rivers: Arts and Environment of the Niger Delta” Los Angeles, UCLA Fowler Museum of Cultural History. page 126