Lobi Twin Statue – Protective Ritual Sculpture

This striking two-headed sculpture represents twins (Gemini) in the traditional art of the Lobi people from southwestern Burkina Faso. Among the Lobi, twins are regarded as spiritually powerful beings, and such figures play a key role in ritual and domestic contexts.

 

Features of the Statue:

- Two stylized human heads with minimal features and simplified carved hairstyles.

- A single solid body carved from dense wood, with a beautiful dark brown patina.

- Small child-like figures held at the sides, potentially representing descendants or spiritual lineage.

- Upright, motionless posture – typical of Lobi sculptures meant to protect or bless a household.

 

Function and Symbolism:

This statue likely served as a ritual object placed on a domestic altar or sacred site. It symbolizes protection, fertility, twin energy, and ancestral memory. Such figures were often commissioned by a diviner (thildar) for healing or spiritual protection.

 

Cultural Context:

Lobi statues are never decorative. Each piece fulfills a precise spiritual function. This twin representation expresses unity within duality and the profound link between the living and the world of spirits.

 

A powerful and authentic piece of tribal art from Burkina Faso, rich with presence and sacred meaning.

 

Provenance

Private collection ZAMBELLI/BRUGNACCHI, assembled between 1990 and 2023.

Transferred to the Spirit Land of Africa Gallery in 2023.

---