Oshe Shango" YORUBA dance stick from Nigeria

This "Oshe Shango" or "Ose Sango" ceremonial carved dance stick is used by devotees of Shango, the Yoruba god of lightning, thunder and justice. Like all Yoruba gods, also known as Orishas, Shango is a deified ancestor.
A much-loved Yoruba divinity, Shango is the object of special ceremonies in which the initiate brandishes the dancing stick to the sound of percussion. The dance movements and sounds produced by the percussionists reproduce the swirling winds and rumblings of thunder, echoing the divinity.

A fine example of a female figure on her knees, in a position of respect, carrying a child on her back and displaying the classic features and characteristics of Yoruba statuary. Above a finely braided headdress, the stylized axe of Shango dominates the composition, reinforcing the link between spiritual power and the protective role of the woman-mother in Yoruba tradition.
The beauty and harmony of this sculpture convey a profound spiritual meaning that goes far beyond mere craftsmanship.
At the crossroads of art and the sacred, this Oshe Shango stick illustrates the richness of Yoruba aesthetics and the importance of women in mediating between divine forces and the community.

Brown patina, localized wear on certain edges and the presence of drying cracks. This dancing stick is presented pedestaled on a wooden base (total height with base 51cm).

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