Superb anjenu statuette in wood, kaolin, pigment, plant fibers and animal skin, typical of the Idoma ethnic group of Nigeria

Height: 38 cm

The Idoma people

Located at the confluence of the Benue and Niger rivers, the Idoma are mainly farmers and traders (their geographical location allows them to serve as intermediaries between the peoples of the Niger Delta and the populations of the interior.

Idoma Art

Idoma artists are best known for their female fertility statues with open mouths revealing teeth, vertical scarifications on the temples, and generally white faces.

Two categories of these female statues are listed. The first, known as anjenu, is used for fertility rites and is generally revered on small family altars; the second, called ekwotame, is in the form of a seated statue: it represents ancestors and symbolizes the idea of ​​lineage.

The Idoma anjenu statuette

presented here is entirely in accordance with the canons of Idoma statuary. It is also decorated with skins and plant materials that probably served as gri-gri.