Bateba

The Lobi occupy part of northern Ivory Coast, north of the Buna wildlife reserve and south of Burkina Faso. They are a people of farmers and hunters. The Lobi believe in a supreme God, Thangbo Thu, creator of the universe, who intervenes in human life through a multitude of Thils, invisible spirits whose mission is to protect humans, and through the Kontuor, spirits of the forest or earth, small red-haired beings who can appear visibly to humans. The Lobi organise their communities around these nature spirits: when honoured, they show their benevolence through abundant rain, good health for people, animals and fields, and numerous births; if ignored, they send devastating epidemics, droughts and suffering. These spirits convey to diviners the laws that followers must observe to receive their protection. They are represented by bateba, sculptures carved by their owners, especially heads of families. To this end, the thils have asked humans to make a statue of the founding ancestor of the lineage, to perpetuate their knowledge over time, since their silent message is revealed through the ancestors’ revered words. What matters about bateba is not their aesthetics but their magical strength, their capacity for action and protection. Intended to protect their owners, these bateba are placed in tombs, in dark corners of houses, or on family altars alongside many others embodying as many spirits, for people face many dangers. Most bateba are male, but female ones also exist. Male bateba are often represented with quite prominent breasts, giving them a hermaphroditic appearance. Female statues are called Thilburu and are statues of family altars. Bateba hairstyles are generally smooth. Following sorcerers’ instructions, altars are also built inside homes or on roofs. Bateba, usually wooden but sometimes carved in stone, are small statuettes that rarely exceed half a metre; some do not reach ten centimetres. They are normally carved in white, soft woods, although some are made of reddish, dense woods. Bateba duntundora are among the largest and have apotropaic qualities: they ensure protection in exchange for offerings, and their aggressive appearance keeps the forces of evil away from families. Other bateba embody different Thil, recognisable by their poses. A dangerous Thil appears with raised or outstretched arms, while more peaceful ones take an ordinary pose, with arms hanging along the body; they may even represent a woman or a maternity figure, symbolising the fertility and wealth that will fill the house. These statuettes serve to communicate with the spirits inhabiting them, the thils, ancestors of the clan and matriclan who govern people’s daily lives. In pairs, bateba favour women’s fertility, especially the birth of twins. The name bateba means “remedies that murmur obscure words”.