Moba figures stand as sentinels in front of Togo homes and village entrances, and are also placed on intimate family altars, providing protection for those who respect them. Traditionally Tchitcheri could only be birthed by individuals whose fathers were diviners, the carving considered a highly delicate operation, requiring special prayers and precautions for these ritually charged objects. Many of the Mobas presented here have seen years of exposure, and as they have weathered became more highly valued in the culture. In their minimalist aesthetic, these Mobas merge the best of the "primitive" and the post-contemporary.
Moba #33
145 cm / 57 in