Tribal Art

These naturalistic sculptures depict a young couple only dressed in a loincloth, their ringed neck forms a specificity of agni productions. Their attitude, arms removed from the bust, head held high, and their appearance give them a worthy interiority. Interesting patina matte, grainy and locally velvety (old kaolin residue?). Abrasions and cracks.
The lagoon populations of eastern Côte d'Ivoire mainly include the Attié, Akyé, the Ebrié and the Abouré. Their sculptures offer many similarities. These kingdoms had the first commercial settlements offering gold, ivory, slaves and pepper to the West. The Agni settled in the northeast of this region.
Among the Akan group, the Attié, Akye, of Akye-Fo, the holders of the blade, are divided between those of the North and those of the South. The Attié, palm oil producers, also harvest yam, maize and bananas. Their traditional and festive ceremonies are an opportunity to display a wide variety of objects, some of them gold or covered in gold. (Source: Treasures of Côte d'Ivoire, F.Neyt; Art from the Ivory Coast Fisher and Homberger).