Female Deity Crocodile and Snake Head

Rare piece intended for voodoo cults. The word voodoo is an adaptation “fon” of a term Yoruba meaning “god”, and voodoo is born from the encounter between Yoruba cults and the gods of the Fon and of the Ew of Togo so voodoo would be the set of gods or supernatural forces whose favors and mediation try to obtain the Fon, Ewe, and to a lesser extent YorubaThe slaves of these peoples are the ones who exported the voodoo to America. Voodoo in Africa is an important element of the culture of these peoples and of many peoples in Ghana, Benin, Togo, Nigeria and other coastal peoples. These peoples have a pantheon in which they worship an incalculable number of gods. These anthropomorphic body gods and crocodile head could be inspired by the numerous “Crocodile gods of Egyptian mythology as well as by some other gods of their pantheon. This figure of the colors white, black and green holds the head of a snake with his right hand and sits on a stool. Dan is the python, sacred serpent for the Fon The head of the figure although with a slightly short nose is the closest thing to that of the crocodile. The disposition of his polychrome is curious, and the fact that he is dressed suggests that he is a voodoo practiced in a crisstianized zone. In the extensive literature on voodoo I have not found in his pantheons any deity corresponding to this morphology. And none of the many specialities I have consulted have been able to respond to me either. And there is no doubt that he perishes to a deity of his pantheon. It belonged to the father of the Senegalese antiquarian Mamadou Marema Diop, of the third generation of antiquarians. No such figure has been seen in any African art book or in any sales gallery.