Ancestor figure - Mahafaly - Madagascar

AL137 Ancestor figure, Totem of the Mahafaly AloAlo. 1965, 167 x 13 x 6 cm, 2.75 kg, Atandroy warrior
All MADAGASCARS maintain a pronounced ancestor cult, whose origin can be traced to Indonesia and Papa New Guinea. One still sees the soul of the deceased (Razana) as part of the social community, which in various stages enters into an unity with the creator god (Zanahary). This, in turn, is connected with the universe. People seek protection, counsel, and strength from the ancestors and fear their wrath. Accordingly, there are different burial cultures depending on the ethnic group. The MAHAFALY, compared to the tiny wooden houses, erect generous stone chest graves, which are ostentatiously built depending on the prestige of the deceased. The burial sites are always outside the living areas. A mortuary house in the middle, filled with the deceased's belongings, houses the prepared deceased in a wooden coffin. The tomb construction and the burial ceremony can take months.
The commissioned workers are fed and the skulls of the sacrificed zebus are scattered on the grave. The grave paintings refer to the daily life or the wishes and dreams of the deceased. An important part of the rite are the ALOALO steles, which are always commissioned works by certified carvers. They depict in the upper part important stages from the life of the deceased, his fantasies and experiences, often also the revered zebuhind. As bearer of life and the universe, the lower part is usually populated by women but also by important figures such as shamans, tribal chiefs, and mythical beings. This artistic universe is connected with astrological symbols such as crescent moons, stars, and ornaments. The MAHAFALY leave the dead to rest (unlike in other parts of the country); his Razana maintains contact with earthly life through mirrors embedded in the grave. Thus the Mahafaly graves are left to themselves and decay over decades.
This sculpture has, in addition to the usual stake in the ground, 7 ornamental fragment motifs with the typical astrological signs such as crescent moons and stars. On the headboard sits a warrior, who originally carried a spear, but this has either been worn away by a revolutionary upheaval or simply by the tooth of time.
The hardwood Menabe used is internally not rotted or brittle! However, due to exposure on the surface, it is heavily weathered, oxidized, and covered with a dust patina. Found in the Tulear region, Kilimasy.
The authentic AloAlo are a artistic rarity, because the ancestor cult, which originates from Papa New Guinea, worldwide only found physical expression in Madagascar in these steles. The export of cultural property/antiques is strictly limited in Madagascar. Our old originals have been in family ownership since at least 1975 and, due to rising collector value, also represent a fruitful investment. (Reference book "Arts Anciens de Madagascar" p. 268)
This object can be shipped by parcel service.