Nakomse woman
Mossi · Burkina Faso
Reference: FRT-54
Image not available.
The documentary record is preserved.- Material
- Wood and pigments
The various female Mossi statues represent Princess Yennega, mother of Ouedrago, who is considered the founder of the ethnic group. Yennega was the daughter of the…
Enquire about this objectFull original description
The various female Mossi statues represent Princess Yennega, mother of Ouedrago, who is considered the founder of the ethnic group. Yennega was the daughter of the king of the Dagomba. As the king possesses divine power without himself being a deity, his daughter has the privilege of communicating with the gods. These figures are called Nakomsé, and possessing them increases the prestige of kings and dignitaries, especially the Naba. They participate in funerary rites and in agricultural rites, or Naposum, during which the figures are displayed to make the ancestors’ presence tangible, although only initiates may see them.
This statue, given its characteristics, could also be integrated into the section corresponding to the fertility statues.
Further technical information
- Attributed period
- Mid-20th century
Details transcribed from the original catalogue; they are not a recent physical inspection.
Country on the map
Burkina Faso. The country associated with the catalog is shown, not the current location of the piece.
Google Maps is loaded only when you press the button.
Attributions, dates and accounts come from the preserved catalogue. They do not constitute certification of authenticity or provenance. An object’s presence on this website does not mean it is available for sale.
