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.africaDirect { background: #fff; } .africaDirect td.logo { padding: 0 10px; background: #000; } .description { font: normal 14px serif; margin: 0 auto; width: 500px; color: #000; text-align: left; } .africaDirect a { font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline; color: #55ae3a; } Lobi THIL Shrine Figure, Miniature Type of Object: Carving, figure, miniature Ethnic Group: Lobi Country of Origin: Burkina FasoMaterials: Carved wood, pigmentApproximate Age: Second half of the 20th century Dimensions: Height is 7 inches Overall Condition: Used Damage/Repair: cracks along the torso and in the backAdditional Information: The Lobi people, who live in Burkina Faso and Ghana, revere spirits known as Thil, and build shrines to them, which are filled with figures like this one. These figures, known as Bateba, are believed to embody the Thil spirits. The Bateba are looked upon as living beings charged with special powers who move, fight against witches, and have intercourse with each other. Giovanni Franco Scanzi (LOBI TRADITIONAL ART) uses the term Bateba Phuwe (ordinary Bateba) to qualify this type of figures. The Lobi believe that the Bateba are superior to humans, but inferior to the Thil spirits, so the Bateba is first activated by putting it in a Thil shrine. The Bateba keep sorcerers away, and help the Thil ward off misfortune. They also play a role in the divination system. Recommended Reading: See LOBI TRADITIONAL ART, Ed. Milanos, 1993 by Giovanni Franco Scanzi; AFRICAN MASTERPIECES FROM MUNICH-The Stratlisches Museum fur Volkerkunde. For a superb collection of Lobi figures, see LOBI SKULPTUREN AUS DER KOLLECTION KATSOUROS.**039802** All content, including pictures, Copyright Africa Direct Inc., 2006 Add Us To Your Favorite Sellers! Please visit our About Us page. SquareTrade © AP6.0 PesaMember
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