Ritual emblem Poro with anthropomorphic figures and crocodile

Title of the work: Poro ritual emblem with anthropomorphic figures and crocodile
Population / Ethnicity: Senufo (Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, Mali)
Cultural area / Geographical origin: West Africa
Material: Carved wood
Dimensions: h. 68 x 23 x 3 cm
Ritual function and meaning: Ritual emblem used in the context of Poro Senufo societies, religious and initiatory associations that regulated social and spiritual life. The crocodile, a totem animal linked to water and the spirit world, symbolizes strength, resistance, and protection. The sculpture served as a sacred support and a vehicle of symbolic teaching during initiation ceremonies.
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