Personal Warrior, Ikenga Figure

Ogoni, Nigeria
Early 20th c.

Provenance: Unter Family collection NYC, acquired in the 1970’s 

Painted with white and brown pigments, this two-toned warrior figure bears the classic elements of an Ikenga figure. Ikengas are personal shrine figures most commonly made in the Igbo culture, making it extremely rare to find one created by the Ogoni. This figure was crafted to both honor one’s ancestors and serve as a shrine to the power of the right hand. Warrior Ikengas, like this example, typically hold a knife in the right hand and a severed human head in the left. Made of medium-density wood, it is in good condition with most of the original pigments still intact.