Description: Some damage to back of head. Probably 21st century. 26 inches tall. 4.9 lbs. S036 Overview: "Ofo" refers to a particular type of wood-and-iron staff that is carried by Igbo elder men in southern Nigeria, including heads of families, heads of clans, leaders of villages, priests, and some masqueraders. Ofos are generally inherited through the paternal lineage. The ofo staff is a sacred symbol of truth, justice, law and authority. It plays a role in prayer, ritual sacrifice, contact of spirit patrons, magical uses, naming ceremonies, determining calendars of events, affirming moral uprightness, sealing covenants, legitimizing states or office, decision making, settling disputes, taking oaths of administration, and promulgating and enforcing laws. Ofos serve as a symbol of power and authority for office holders and titled men. Ofos represent the collective power of the ancestors, and the truths given by Chuku, the Creator. They invoke the link between the living, the dead, and those yet to be born. Indigenous blacksmiths are typically the makers of the wood-and-iron ofos. Forged iron elements on the faces of ofos are generally considered to represent scarifications, and are symbolic, but there is no consensus as to the meaning of these symbols. There has been some conjecture that one or more of the elements may represent blacksmithing tools. The ?halos? or aureoles surrounding the ofo heads are probably a reference to the shape of indigenous hoes, which are revered objects. Sources: Anthony-Claret Onwutalobi, Nancy Neaher Maas, Christopher I. Ejizu, Remi Houdart Authenticity: The wood-and-iron ofo staffs can be roughly divided into three categories: Cult specimens: covered with sacrificial residuesSymbolic specimens: generally clean and free of depositsImitations: made for sale rather than for indigenous use Complicating the issue of authenticity is the fact that the ofo tradition is still practiced in parts of Nigeria. Therefore, age per se is not necessarily a reliable indicator of authenticity. It is difficult to know whether a recently-made ofo was produced for indigenous use or for non-indigenous consumption. Furthermore, some ofos are prematurely aged in order to deceive a potential buyer. Many of these very convincing fakes come out of workshops in neighboring Cameroon. There is also a possibility that some vintage ofos have had newer iron added to them, or conversely, that some newer ofos have had older, original iron placed on them. In either of these cases, the older material confers a degree of authenticity to the new hybrid. This is the best case scenario when newer materials are present. Otherwise, when newer material is discerned, suspicion should naturally follow. Pricing: My prices are derived from my assessment of authenticity or non-authenticity, artfulness, skillfulness, and size. In most cases, I am pricing my ofos as though they might be fakes, because I cannot guarantee that they are not. I believe that some of them are authentic and some of them are not, so a buyer should rely mostly on an ofo?s aesthetic appeal in deciding whether or not to make a purchase. These ofos are all handmade in Western Africa, so at the very least they represent a longstanding indigenous tradition of wood carving and ironworking. Shipping: No shipping to locations outside of the United States. A flat shipping rate has been estimated for each ofo. If the actual shipping cost is less, then a refund of the difference will be issued to the Buyer. If the actual shipping cost is more, the Buyer shall not be responsible for the difference. Combined shipping is allowed and encouraged, since it will result in a lower cost and less work. Returns: Sorry, no returns. This is a liquidation sale at liquidation prices. Bases: Sorry, but I do not offer bases for these ofos, and most of them will require a sturdy base for proper displaying and safety. Ofo heights and weights are included in all descriptions.
Price: 200 USD
Location: Long Beach, California
End Time: 2024-12-27T02:17:32.000Z
Shipping Cost: 40 USD
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All returns accepted: ReturnsNotAccepted
Provenance: Ownership History Not Available
