Hunter

The hunter is one of the most important characters in traditional African societies. Deep knowledge of nature, knows how to guide itself by the stars, predict the time, knows the medicinal plants. He can cure many diseases and snake and insect bites have no secrets for him. He is able to guess the weight and species of an animal by the footprint that he has left when passing on wet or sandy earths and by the way in which he has eaten the grass on the leafy grounds. And he knows how to follow his trail In any circumstance, he imitates the sound of the animals and the call of the females to their cubs by making them reach their feet and be able to capture them alive. His sense of orientation in nature even in territories unknown by him is impressive. It detects the danger of any animal that may be lurking or a camouflaged snake. It's indefatigable walking through the jungle or the savannah. Its camouflage is perfect, it can approach the animals at unsuspected distances. It masks its human scent by staining its hunting vest with animal excrement, from which hang numerous protective amulets. Never miss a shot, not only because ammo is often something out of reach but because it approaches a distance where it is impossible to miss the shot. They are usually homemade rifles, manufactured by blacksmith or by himself. Homemade black powder, as well as pistons made from small capsules of lambskin left to dry and filled with phosphorus from the old European matches. For bullets or lead posts in times not too far away they used even empty tooth or bitumen tubes that they could get.

The hunter provides meat to the village in times of hardship. He becomes brave and skillful warrior in times of war. It is part of a powerful caste grouped in secret societies. Their masks are zoomorphs and participate almost systematically in the initiation rites of young teenagers to whom they transmit the ideals of courage, suffering and constancy. And they also participate in funeral rites and festive activities. In many ethnicities it is not hunter who wants but the one who comes from caste or the chosen one. The hunter is respected and admired.

Hunter statue endowed with generous masculine attributes. Contrary to Western customs, this type of statues in which sex is shown do not pursue any erotic purpose, but simply show man's reproductive capacity. Female and male fertility is the first quality that can adorn a person. The figure of the hunter, with typical punu features and black hair, and polychrome of kaoli has acquired an ochre patina, effect of the abundant laterite of the African lands. And patina darkened by time. Pedestal monoblock.