Superb wooden and kaolin statue, which comes from the Jukun ethnic group of Nigeria

Height: 58 cm; some missing parts, especially on the feet (see photos) clearly due to prolonged storage on beaten earth

The Jukun ethnic group

Present throughout West and Central Africa, the Jukun ethnic group lives mainly in Nigeria, in the upper Benue Valley, and in the northwest of Cameroon.

Its king, called aka uku, is responsible for ancestor worship and guarantor of the tribe's well-being. As is often the case in African courts, he may be sacrificed, the state of his body being closely linked to the state of the community, in the event of too visible aging, or an accident or natural disaster for which he would naturally be held responsible.

Jukun statues

They represent ancestors, wives or sometimes also slaves and are exhibited during funerals, agricultural ceremonies and, possibly, in case of danger to the community. During these rites, they serve as intermediaries between the priest and the world of the ancestors.

Outside these periods, they are kept in sanctuaries; prayers are addressed to them to ensure the well-being of the group and they are sprinkled with palm wine or millet beer. Other statues are buried to honor deceased chiefs.

Variants of the name Jukun

There are many variants of the name of the ethnic group: Jukuns, Kona, Corn, Corn, Corn, Corn, Corn, Corn, Corn, Kpanzo, Father, Kpe, Kwaroofa, Kur, Kwanaba, Kwana, Kwararafa, Kwararafa, Ndama, Nyufo, Ocan, Tshan, Urapang, Wapa