Magic figure with articulated arms Kafiguélédio - Lot 23

Magic figure with articulated arms Kafiguélédio Wood, various materials, cowrie shells, feathers, sacrificial crust, marks of use Sénoufo, Ivory Coast, 20th century H_74.5 cm Among the Senoufo of Côte d'Ivoire, the Kafiguélédio designates a figure with a strong magical dimension, used as a support for ritual action by specialists in contexts of protection, justice or directed intervention. The Kafiguélédio's articulated arms, which can be swivelled, are a decisive feature: they enable the figure to symbolically aim at a person or a situation, with a view to taking action from a distance. The attributes - a sword on one side, a mace on the other - reflect this capacity for intervention. Amulets worn around the neck concentrate active charges, while cowrie shell eyes suggest a faculty of perception and vigilance. Feathers help to activate these forces. The thick crust accumulating on the surface is the result of repeated deposits, libations and manipulations. It materializes the accumulation of ritual energy, in an operative logic where each gesture aims to produce a concrete effect. Expert: Serge REYNES