Tribal Art

Anthropomorphic boccio statuette, summarily cut, shoulders forward, swinging arms, one of which is missing. A stick is inserted in the bust of the character, also surrounded by cords and a red cotton fabric. The legs joined to the thick feet form the quadrangular base. Matte patina rubbed with ochre.
The botchio (from bo : "evil spell" in Fon, and tchio , "corpse") erected at the top of a pole was erected at the entrance of the village or a house in order to keep away from it any threat, physical or spiritual. Some of them took minimalist forms, barely sketched around a central trunk. The multitude of gods fon (the vodun), similar to those of the Yoruba under different names, are represented by fetishes of all shapes and forms. Their shrines are found in Togo, Dahomey, and western Nigeria. Statuettes embodying the legba , protectors of the home, are often added to them. The faithful administer daily offerings and libations to them, which are supposed to activate their power.