[Staff] Yoruba worshipers use this type of staff in ceremonies honoring Shango, a deified king whose judgments against evildoers are associated with the destructive power of thunder and lightning.

The sculptor of this staff has carved the female figure in a relatively naturalistic style. Her highly emphasized breasts and the baby symbolize fertility. The kneeling woman represents a devotee of Shango giving thanks for her child, a blessing from the god.

Courtesy of the National Museum of African Art, purchased with funds from the Smithsonian Collections Acquisition Program.

Staff (Oshe Shango), Yoruba peoples, Nigeria, 20th century A.D., wood, glass beads, and pigment

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