These fetishes and
statues, are wooden sculptures, anthropomorphic or zoomorphic, filled with different amulet or magic formula dedicated to a specific use. Evidence of animism still alive in
Gabon and Black Africa, every woodcarving suggests its own strength or action. They can be filled with nails or metallic blades, they can contain
in back or ventral hollows some "medicines", kernels, hairs, teeth,
nails. Cloths, feathers ... can complete them.
Pieces of mirror, bright metal or shellfishes are used to block up hollows or eyes.
Masks or woodcarvings have specific rules that you must know before buying some one.
EYES : - the opened eyes
suggest a definite destination and a strong and uninterrupted action, Common people fears and avoid them.
- closed eyes keep their secret inside acting in the white magic way.
MOUTH : - The opened or closed mouth suggests the revelation or the secret. The most appreciated are whose are able to keep a secret...
- Mouth in "Infinite" symbol Audacious can go
beyond these warnings and .try to use this terrific statue...
You have to place your statue where you wish its actions :
-front-door (for the all house and visitors entering)
-bedroom
-kitchen - etc...
Fetishes of Fertility :
Fertility remains the most important preoccupation of human being since the beginning of the evidence that it's the only way for filiation perpetuation. Survival of the Tribe depends of it.
It's why a lot of fetishes were developped only dedicated to this important function.
GABONESE WOODCARVING ART:
ORIGINS
The Fang People lived on horseback in
Cameroon and Gabon (Fang is equivalent to "berber" generic word).
Every family had
"Byeri", or box to care and kept the forefathers' relics The byeri were kept by the oldest person in the tribe named
"Esa". Relic Boxes were covered with a statue or a headmask acting for the "Byeri" safety.
Byeri were kept in a dark place in the tent, they had an
apotropaïc function (Apotropaïc : . Adj. Magic formula specific to a tribe).