Sheep Bone Sculpture Aklakou, Southeast Togo Sheep bone, carved and polished The slender sculpture utilizes the natural, elongated shape of the bone as the starting point for a strongly verticalized human figure. The body is conceived as almost columnar; breasts, bent arms, and a rounded buttocks emerge only slightly from it. The narrow head features almond-shaped eyes, a straight nose, and a small mouth. The soaring, vessel-like crown is particularly striking, while parallel incised lines articulate the hairstyle and surface. The dark brown, in places glossy, patina contrasts with lighter areas of wear, lending the brittle material a remarkably warm, physical presence. The work originates from Aklakou in southeastern Togo, an area near the border with Benin, which is culturally shaped by Ewe communities and local Vodun traditions. Comparable figurative objects from southern Aklakou are associated with ancestor worship, protective beliefs, and the material representation of spiritual forces. Small sculptures exhibit a great diversity of forms within the religious culture of the Ewe. Particularly well-known are Aklama, small depictions of people, animals, and objects that can be understood as helping spirits. Their compact form makes them an impressive representation of physical and spiritual presence. Literature (selection): Spieth, Jakob: The Ewe Tribes. Berlin 1906. Pezzoli, Gigi / Plath, Philipp / Quarcoopome, Nii: Aklama. Helper Spirits of the Ewe and Dangme. 2016. Montgomery, Eric J.: “Visual ‘Voodoo’: Photo-Voice in Togo”, Visual Anthropology 30/4, 2017. Inv. No. MAZ21161 Informant Amadou