A Lobi Bateba Ti Puo Idol Protection from Witchcraft

  
A carved wooden male bateba ti puo or spirit idol from a local shrine, with classic form and strong carving style and a weathered surface. Lobi Bateba "Ti Puo" refers to a type of wooden sculpture created by the Lobi people of Burkina Faso, West Africa, specifically depicting an ancestral spirit figure with a distinctive style, often characterized by raised arms and a stylized body, considered highly important in their religious ceremonies as protection from witchcraft. "Bateba" refers to the category of ancestral spirit figures, while "Ti Puo" is a specific name for this type of representation within the Bateba category which means "Dangerous".

Lobi peoples, Burkina Faso, West Africa. The Idol measures 22 inches tall on professional custom display stand. Provenance: a private New Jersey collection.