Nigeria
Yoruba

Wood, cowrie shells, indigo paint, metal
Early 1900s
Height: 17 inches
Other – Ritual Symbolism

Eshu (Eschu), also called Elegba, is the  essentially protective, benevolent spirit who serves Ifa, the chief god of the Yoruba of Nigeria, as trickster and sole messenger to all the collective gods and guardian of the crossroads. He conveys the wish of men to the gods, and understands every language/spoken tongue by mankind.  He has two avatar forms which are manifestations of his dual nature of positive and negative energies. 

1. Eshu Laroye – Teacher, instructor and leader 
2. Eshu Ebita – Cunning, deceitful and suggestive 

The exquisite carved wooden Eshu figure has dark patina and decorative elements. The coiffure is large and swept back with incised lines and triangular designs throughout. Evidence of a dark blue paint is visible on coiffure. The face is carved in high relief with protruding eyes, ears, nose, and mouth. Carved vertical lines on cheeks represent scarification. The figure is kneeling with outstretched arms holding breasts atop a large section of carved wood with cylindrical beveled design tapering in the middle. Around the lower end of the section is a decorative bronze bracelet-like ring. Around the figure’s waist is a circle of blue and white chevron glass beads on fiber string. At the neck is a thick loop of leather to which is tied some fiber string with long blue glass beads, a Nigerian coin featuring a six pointed star, and 11 strings of cowrie shells. Two of these cowrie shell strings have larger cowrie shells and are on the left side of the figure (from viewer perspective).  The contrasted white cowrie shells with the dark wood, reflects Eshu’s dual nature.