Very beautiful wooden statue, which comes from the Jukun ethnic group of Nigeria

Height: 55 cm

The Jukun ethnic group

Present throughout West and Central Africa, the Jukun ethnic group, which numbers more than 300,000 individuals, lives mainly in Nigeria, in the upper Benue Valley, and the northwest of Cameroon.

Its king, called aka uku, is responsible for ancestor worship and guarantor of the well-being of the tribe. As is often the case in African courts, he can 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 even a natural disaster for which he would naturally be responsible.

Jukun statues

They represent ancestors, wives or sometimes also slaves and are exhibited during funerals, agricultural ceremonies and, possibly, in the event 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 leaders.