Name/Title
Lobi Bateba FigureEntry/Object ID
2007.11.3Description
Lobi bateba figure
These wooden statues, produced in Burkina Faso sometime during the 19th or 20th centuries, embody the Lobi people's devotion to providing and protecting for their families. For the Lobi, femininity symbolized the fertility of nature and the continuation of family lineage. Bateba figures were crafted to resemble their owners, with distinct features and hairstyles. The Lobi believed that hair held sacred power, safeguarding against malevolent spirits. These statues served as protectors of their territory, and were placed in homes to ward off evil spirits. Both sculptures in their own right are an embodiment of providing and protecting.Made/Created
Time Period
19th Century, 20th CenturyInterpretative Labels
Label Type
Credit LineLabel
Saint Joseph's University Purchase