figure;
whistle(?);
imborivungu(?)
- Museum number
- Af1927,1108.1
- Description
-
Ritual figure; made of human skull; a) cranium covered in cloth which is coated with mud and abrus precatorius seeds, metal eyes, metal squares on string hanging around bottom edge, yellow felt covering bottom; b) incised bone stand ("whistle", [or imborivungu ?]) made of human leg bone carved with hole at centre, incised with geometric designs, ending in resin or clay-covered base with abrus precatorius seeds.
- Production date
- 1914-1927 (probably)
- Dimensions
-
Height: 13 centimetres (skull)
-
Height: 26.50 centimetres (stand)
-
Width: 16 centimetres (skull)
-
Width: 5.50 centimetres (stand)
-
Depth: 19 centimetres (skull)
-
Depth: 7.50 centimetres (stand)
- Curator's comments
- Register: "Used by Shangev West clan of the Tiv (Munshi) people, Nigeria."
Described as "imborivungu figure" on Africa collections index card and storage box card. Skull and bone "whistle" (or imborivungu ?) called parts "a" and "b" respectively on attached tags. (AMD,7/1998).
See Ethdoc 253 - Note by C C Feasey, 4.11.1927 'Tiv ('Munshi) Juju known as B(W)EVUNGU TAMEN'
'This juju is alleged to have the power of causing instant death, and was used in the Shangev West clan of the Tiv people. It was found in the possession of Agbagi, head of the clan, who with two others formed a secret society.
When the juju was about to be used, the whistle in the neck was blown, as a warning and all persons in the vicinity hid in their huts, the head was uncovered and shown to the victim, who died in the course of a day or so (probably from poison). In the event of any unauthorised person catching a sight of the uncovered head, it is said that he also died, but I believe that in some cases the members were willing to accept cattle ostensibly to propitiate the juju; but actually to enrich themselves.
Agbagi was executed for murder - not in connection with this juju - in August 1926, one of the members died shortly before, and the third I have not been able to trace.
The ordinary B(W) EVUNGU is a human bone which is used to ensure good crops, and usually is handed down from father to son. To have a juju possessing evil powers, used entirely for evil purposes, is contrary to Tiv custom and no other one is known to be in existence.'
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition date
- 1927
- Acquisition notes
- Af1927,1108.1 to 15 is a collection of objects from the Tiv (Munshi) in the Benue valley, given by Captain G G Feasey, a district officer in the Munshi (Tiv) division of Nigeria. The objects must have been collected between 1914 (when he arrived in Nigeria) and 1927, the date of this gift.
- Department
- Africa, Oceania and the Americas
- Registration number
- Af1927,1108.1