A small Moba sculpture, Northern Ghana. Light wood; signs of ritual use.

 “The Moba who live in northeastern Ghana and northwestern Togo are an African society that lives in patrilineal clans, in which individuals are grouped based on a common ancestor traced through the male line. The Moba have a significant focus on family ancestors, especially their original family ancestor and create figures to become closer with these ancestors. As a result, the Moba wooden figures are a major focus in Moba ritual life. (Kreamer, 1987, 52). Moba woodcarvers (tikpierroa) create wood figures called tchitcheri to represent their ancestors and to place as a shrine offering. In general, carvers usually are males and any male within the society can become one. They use a tool called an adze, which is a tool usually only reserved for carving. However, Woodcarvers who carve tchitcheri must be the sons of diviners. Although, being a diviner’s son is important when creating tchitcheri, it is possible for non-diviners sons to carve them through the use of protective medicine, however this is considered dangerous. (Kreamer, 1987, 53).

Moba figures are made in the likeness of the human form, but are abstract. Typically, figures have short legs in comparison to the rest of the body, limited facial features, lack of detailed hands and feet, and gender is only rarely indicated. The Moba found in the PLU collection have all of these characteristics and the genders are unknown. The figures also show sign of wood deterioration and wear, which could be an indicator that the figures were actually used by a Moba household. (Kreamer, 1987, 52).”

Kreamer, Christine. “Moba Shrine Figures.” African Arts, 20:2, 1987.
Kreamer, Christine. “Seeing Between Worlds: a Moba Figure.” In Frederick Lamp (ed.) See The Music, Hear The Dance: Rethinking African Art at the Baltimore Museum of Art. Munich: Prestel, 2004. MAZ08162