Baga drum with female caryatid — Baga, Guinea — African tribal art — Ref. 226

Description

This piece is a Baga caryatid drum from Guinea, used in cultural and ritual ceremonies. The drum rests on a kneeling female figure carved in wood. It is traditionally associated with important rituals such as male initiations, funerals of elders and sacrifices to the ancestors.
The Baga are an ethnic group living on the coast of Guinea, recognised for their sculptural art connected with spirituality and social rites. This drum, called timba, symbolises the connection with the ancestors and plays an essential role in male ceremonies, where it affirms male authority within society.
It is played during initiations, funerals and important ceremonies, marking the passage of young men into adulthood. The carved female figure, acting as a caryatid, may represent the complementarity of genders in Baga spirituality, where certain practices and spirits are associated with specific genders.
The piece is made of carved wood, with traces of polychromy and an animal-skin membrane. Although the sculpture shows visible signs of ageing, such as cracks and repairs, it still appears to be in good condition for an object of this nature. The presence of these repairs, probably carried out by local craftsmen, suggests prolonged use and cultural value maintained over time.

Technical details

Type of piece

Statue

Category

Instruments

Ethnic group

Baga

Country

Guinée

Materials

wood, peau

Dimensions

H 60 × W 20 × D 26 cm

Weight

7,4 kg

Estimated dating

second half 20th c.

Laboratory test

Not tested

Reference

226