Igalagana Women’s Guardian Spirit

MUMUYE STATUS

Mumuye blacksmiths sculpt longline, heavy-wood statues of women, called iagalagana they are kept in huts owned by families and entrusted to one of their members who possesses magical qualities. These statues have divinatory and protective powers. They are used during droughts and dry season to implore rains. In addition to having the power to attract rain, they are involved in conflict resolution because they are the depositors of truth and justice. Their possession reinforces the prestige of their owners.

The mumuye statues have been discovered a few decades ago as a practically unknown town. At first, their neighbours were credited with Chamba. Iagalagana are also linked to ceremonies for therapeutic or prophylactic purposes. His figure is longilinear, with large lobes in the ears that exaggerate those of ethnic women and that just like the arms fall heavily to the sides. The head is proportionally small, mainly in female figures, with tiny eyes, nose and mouth. They are carved in heavy and dense wood. The arms are joined together forming a kind of vaulted arch at the height of the chest, joining the shoulders. In the female statues, under this relief arch appear two small triangular breasts. The arms are too long and the legs too short. The scapular arch and the pelvic arch have a great symmetry.

They are carved in heavy and dense wood. Their aesthetics are characterized by long arms torn from the body along a straight and cylindrical trunk, they are united forming a kind of arch vaulted at the height of the chest, joining the shoulders. Short and arched legs, following the structure of the arms and combed on crest, from which two manes fall, like skirts, on both sides of the face.

In the female statues, under this relief arch appear two small triangular breasts. The arms are too long and the legs too short. The scapular arch and the pelvic arch have a great symmetry.

The function of these statues revolves around four particular uses: the reception and custody of the house, divination, justice and healing practices. They can also divert evil forces to other people.

 

These statues do not represent ancestors but guardian spirits. They are also stored in the tsafi, in the custody of the fortune teller or blacksmith.

Its size can be several from a few centimeters to about two meters.

The skulls of the ancestors, where they think the soul resides, are kept in a hut, tsafi, from the village where families worship them and offer sacrifices to attract their favors and help them to have good crops. For this same purpose they celebrate the dance of the Vaca. Alongside these skulls are statues carved in his honor, thinking that his spirit will also penetrate the statue that once taken home from his owners will protect the family.

Black patina, restored figure, missing right leg.