Ewe Togo settler statue - Lot 104

Ewe Togo settler statue Antique statue, naturalistic type, shaded brown. Minor damage, desiccation crack. 51 x 9 cm In African art, "colonists" are anthropomorphic figurative sculptures of various aspects, frequently representing Westerners. Some elements are constant: civil servants' costumes, religious outfits, soldiers' uniforms, helmets, etc... Expressions of naïve art or social caricatures, they are also usually in bright, colorful hues. The Ewe, often confused with the Minas, are Togo's largest ethnic group. They are also found as minorities in Ghana, Benin, Côte d'Ivoire and Nigeria. According to Hélène Joubert, the worship of the Yoruba gods, the orisha , and that of the Vodou gods, vodun , as well as their religious structure, are comparable in many respects. Slaves from different cultures also exported their practices to Cuba and Brazil. Although little historical information is available about the Ewe, it seems that their settlement in their current location is the result of invasions and conflicts that broke out during the 17th century. Antique statue, naturalistic type, shaded brown. Minor damage, desiccation crack.