Iroke Divination Tapper with Five Figures

Origin: Yoruba Tribe, Nigeria
Composition: wood, paint, natural pigments

But for its size, this tall, five figure staff would clearly be identified as a Yoruba iroke divination tapper, which is a hand-held instrument used during divination rituals. Made of wood or ivory, iroke tappers are recognizable for their pointed tops and their front-facing figures, which are always stacked when more than one figure is depicted (in all these details, just like this piece). As we have never seen such an iroke of this size, we are reluctant to call it such, yet an alternative attribution is just as elusive. If could possibly be a cane, a dance wand, or a different type of divination implement, yet we have never seen anything similar used in such a way.

An Ifa diviner, or Babalawo ("father of secrets"), invokes Orunmila, the Yoruba god of divination, by tapping the end of his iroke at the center of a divination board "where the metaphorical crossroads of life and the afterlife has been marked in wooddust." A Babalawo is consulted to determine the cause of misfortune, or before a new undertaking. He can reveal what role the gods play in determining the future, and steps to be taken to appease the gods and smooth the way. A Babalawo must seek out the spiritual forces influencing his client's life, and his iroke is an integral part of this process.

The word 'Yoruba' describes both a language and a tribe living across Nigeria and the Popular Republic of Benin, in an area of forest and savannah. Their origins can be traced back to the end of the first millennium, as in the civilization of Ife. Following the collapse of the Ife civilization, a number of kingdoms such as the Ijebu and the Oyo emerged. They, in turn, disintegrated during the 18th and 19th centuries, but were revived by the colonial powers at the end of the 19th century and today still form the political structure of the Yoruba people. The enormous scale of the slave trade in Nigeria contributed to the Diaspora of the Yoruba people and their spiritual practices in countries such as Haiti.

The undated photograph below depicts a Yoruba diviner using an iroke during a divination sessions, and is © M.T. Drewal (Ref: Bacquart, "Tribal Arts of Africa"; Roberts, "A Sense of Wonder"; Visona, "A History of Art in Africa").

We do not collect much Yoruba artwork, due to the abundance of (unintentionally) crude tourist-market driven work now coming out of Nigeria. This piece has elements of earlier, finer Yoruba pieces. If taken individually, each of the five figures on the staff could hold its own as a high quality, stand-alone figure. Research as to why the figures are placed in the order they are, the meaning of each figure, and the use of color will likely raise more questions than it answers. Taken as a whole, the piece is a special work of art.

Please contact us to inquire about this piece at (415) 362-6601 or info@sujaro.com.