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Object Title
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Warning to men who threaten the family, flocks, or garden
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Object ID
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AR_0001_03_0007
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Created By
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Lobi artisans
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Date
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1920-1940
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Owned By
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Florida A&M University Meek-Eaton Southeastern Regional Black Archives Research Center and Museum
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Medium
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wood
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Dimensions
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H x W: 56cm x 24cm I 22" x 9.5"
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Description
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This carving is rich with specific threats and potential interpretations. Are the arms embracing and grabbing the heads from the same bodies as the head, or from one of the others? There is no mistake about the message of desperation, pain, and agony that seems to be the prime message being delivered by this spirit.
This pile of body parts includes evidence of recent and previous violence to several individuals. The spirit is actually more of a display of the grim consequence of trespass. It is reminiscent of how executed criminals and state prisoners were historically displayed throughout Europe and colonial Africa, as a warning to others by governments and powerful leaders or royalty.
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Object Notes
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The arm of one severed head is joined by the naked bone of another to hold what seems to be a brain that has been removed from a head.
This spirit clearly presents an ongoing threat to anyone who trespasses in the spirit's territory.
The accumulation of bones, the severed heads, plus the presentation of a removed brain, clearly shows the fate of those who crossed the spirit's path.
It is a stark contrast to the passive defense offered by earlier field spirits.
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Subject Of
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Field Spirits of the Fante
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Placed Used
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Ghana, Africa
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Collection Title
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Field Spirits of the Fante
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Classification
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African Artifacts and Objects
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Topic
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Agriculture
Labor
Spirituality
Superstitions
African Culture
Indigenous Religion
Farming
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Credit Line
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Collection of the Meek-Eaton Southeastern Regional Black Archives Research Center and Museum, Gift of Nana Araba Apt, Marian Sylvia Horowitz, and Richard Douglas, Ph.D.
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Restrictions and Rights
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All rights reserved. The use of any part of these objects and photographs transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, or stored in a retrieval system without the prior written consent of MEBA is an infringement of the copyright law.
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Photograph Rights Holder
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Photo Rights and Courtesy Reserved to Melanie Reyes Photography, and Richard Douglass, Ph.D. NO RIGHTS TO USE THESE IMAGES WITHOUT EXPRESSED WRITTEN CONSENT. SUBJECT TO COPYRIGHT (c)2023
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Spatial Coverage
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en
On Display
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Title
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AR_0001_03_0007
