Standing female figure

Date20th century

Label TextWomen who taught about sexual behavior carried this figure as a signal of their authority. Such representatives of the Yassa society were chosen to teach young men and women about the rules of relationships to be followed. They also had the power to determine punishment for those who transgressed the rules. The figure embodies the memories of ancestral women who have been initiated into the society, as seen in her beads and scarification. Her wide forehead is a sign of the value placed on young women who store their knowledge there as they prepare for their lives as adults.

Object number94.104

Credit LineGift of Dr. Oliver E. and Pamela F. Cobb

Dimensions24 x 5 1/2 x 5 1/2 in. (60.96 x 13.97 x 13.97 cm)

MediumStained wood, beads