Fertility Post

Fertility, whether of fields or people, is one of the central themes of traditional African societies and finds expression in numerous sculptural forms. In most African peoples, a woman’s inability to have children is the greatest misfortune that can befall a family. She loses her dignity as a woman and is forgotten, despised and pushed aside by her society until she is completely isolated. An infertile man, or one who has remained unmarried, faces everyone’s reproach, mockery and contempt. In either case, he may have to leave the village because life there has become unbearable. Ensuring descendants is paramount for families so that the lineage can endure. Men and women are made to pass on life; if they cannot, they lose the primary attribute of their human nature, just as barren land loses its nature as nourishing earth and becomes something arid, incapable of generating life. Land that bears no fruit is a great misfortune for the community, depriving it of necessary food.

Many rites and cults seek to promote fertility, usually linking women’s fertility with the fertility of the fields. The two form a whole. The spiritual forces to which these rites are addressed also take many material forms. Numerous masks and statues are made and consecrated for this purpose. One object used very frequently in many places is the fertility post, placed in front of the door of the hut of a woman approaching childbirth to protect her from adversity and prevent danger from entering. It is the watchman that guards the house and protects it from all evil. Like fertility dolls, statues and other objects carved for this purpose, these posts take different forms and sizes according to the ethnic group.

The post represents a hornbill, a primordial bird in Senufo mythology. A pointed base intended to be driven into the ground. Wood aged by time.