A superb, authentic female Tugubele statuette, carved by the Senufo in Cote d'Ivoire. The name Tugubele applies to both the spirits and the mediating statuettes. Artists creating Tugubele followed closely the instructions given to them by the diviner who would have been told specific details about the figure’s required appearance, gender, posture, scarification marks etc. directly by the spirit. Diviners were contacted by the spirits often while they were sleeping in the form of a dream. Senufo diviners, called Sando’o, used these small wooden anthropomorphic statuettes to communicate with the helpful spirits living in the wilderness. 20 cm high (including base) Overall good condition with rich patina and wear consistent with use and age. It is mounted on a custom base that will be shipped with the sculpture.