African Art

African, Nigeria; Yoruba People
Ifa Divination Tapper, ivory, 20th century
Gift of Michael H. Glicker, 82.46.1

The tapper is generally formed like a miniature elephant's tusk, and very often includes the figure of a kneeling nude woman. Among adults in Yoruba society, nudity is not customary except on the most solemn occasions, and in holding her breasts the woman is performing a sacred gesture. Thus the carving emphasizes the solemnity and sacredness of the divination process.