Kissi ritual fetish with Toma influence — Kissi, Guinea — African tribal art — Ref. 64

Description

Kissi ritual fetish with Toma influences — Sierra Leone / Guinea.
This piece is a ritual fetish attributable to the Kissi people, with notable influences from the ritual practices of the Toma, two neighbouring ethnic groups from the Sierra Leone and Guinea region. It is composed of a stone base, typical of Kissi sacred objects such as “pomdo”, surrounded by textiles and cords, and adorned with feathers and cowries. These elements accentuate its ritual and sacred character.
The carved face presents a distinctive conical headdress, a motif often associated with Toma traditions, where the hat is a symbol of spiritual authority or belonging to an initiatory circle. The cowries, symbols of spiritual wealth and connection to the ancestors, are used here ritually to reinforce the mystical power of the object.
The textile and cord ornaments are typical of the practices of both ethnic groups, but the integration of stone, a central element in Kissi cults, confirms the principal origin of this object. This type of fetish served as a medium between the living and the spirits, used for rituals of protection, divination or justice.
This piece perfectly illustrates the cultural and ritual exchanges between these two ethnic groups, bearing witness to a rich spiritual tradition and sacred craftsmanship deeply rooted in their cosmogony.

Technical details

Type of piece

Statuette

Category

Ritual objects

Ethnic group

Kissi

Country

Guinée

Materials

feathers, cowries, Tissue, fibre végétale

Dimensions

H 33 × W 11 × D 16 cm

Weight

2,6 kg

Estimated dating

second half 20th c.

Laboratory test

Not tested

Reference

64