This female figure with an offering bowl is the representation of a bush spirit (called mandeo, tugu or ndeo). Such object constitutes the essential equipment of the healer-soothsayer (called sando). The statuette both represents and serves as the abode for the bush spirits who are believed to be in contact with the diviner.
Used for the practice of divination, this statuette was consulted in order to resolve problems and obtain better fortune or health. Such elaborate figure was almost exclusively reserved for the diviner, and was probably in use for the village divination society (the sandogo, a female association).
Probably end of 19^th century.

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