A YO DOMOLO SHOULDER CROOK

Provenance: Private Dutch collection

Held in the hand or worn over the shoulder, these curved staffs are the emblem of the society of Yona (ritual thieves). The principal activity of the society seems to occur at the funeral of one of its members, stealing domestic animals to be sacrificed and eaten at the funeral ceremony. Each Dogon clan has a ritual thief. The staffs are called Yo Domolo (thief's staff ), and frequently have a hook-shaped form.
Cf: Art of the Dogon, Jan Baptist Bedaux, page 170

Dogon, Mali, Africa
Wood, 50 x 30 cm, comes together with a stand

Price:  €  2.200,-