Rare! Altar statue of the KOMA, Nigeria, 1900 - 1920

Very rare ancient pre-contact altar statue of the KOMA people from Nigeria.

These hill dwellers live in the Atlantika Mountains, which span the border between southeastern Yola, the capital of the Adamawa state in Nigeria, and northern Cameroon. They were discovered in 1986. The majority of hill dwellers in Koma rely on farming, hunting and collecting forest products such as bananas, locust beans and canarium that are used for body lubrication. They buy agricultural tools and scarce garments that men use on ceremonial occasions from the Fulani, Bata, Chamba, and other lowland tribes. The Koma are one of the last peoples to live naked. They cover the bottom of their body with leaves. The Koma believe in a supreme being called Zum of Nu. The language they speak is called Shamba.

This is an extremely rare and ancient tribally used altar statue in the shape of a bird. The bird is carved from a light wood type. White pemba clay is visible in the eyes, while the patina shows partial blood crust remnants as part of the remnants of rituals performed with presumably chicken blood. The "legs", bottom, is coated with iron powder. Please take a good look at the photos for the condition, which can be called good given the age and use. A great opportunity for the collector of rare, very old and tribally used objects! The statue is placed on a refined custom-made stand that is of course included.

Height: 9.5 cm
Length: 15 cm
Weight: 80 grams, including standard 176 grams
Origin: Nigeria
Date: 1900 - 1920
Provenance: ex Mr. Kunar