Pair of muiha Figures

Origin: Bwa Tribe, Burkina Faso
Composition: wood

These rare figures from Burkina Faso are known as muiha. Despite their size, they were believed to watch over an entire community and provide prosperity and well-being to all those who honored them. They are very similar to Mossi tribe figures, but can be identified as Bwa because of their facial scarification and posture (Ref: Roy/Wheelock, "Land of the Flying Masks").

The various tribes living in Burkina Faso cultivate millet and cotton and rear cattle. Their religious activities are dictated by the rhythm of the seasons—during the dry season in particular, when the fields are fallow, large festivals and ceremonies are organized.

The 300,000 Bwa people are scattered across Mali and Burkina Faso. They are classified into three distinct professional groups: farmers, blacksmiths, and musicians. The Bwa are famous for their zoomorphic, painted masks which invoke protective natural and bush spirits for prosperity and protection.

Bwa figures are relatively rare, and are associated with divination ceremonies and human and agricultural fertility rites. They are paraded through villages and offered sacrifices (Ref: Bacquart, Tribal Arts of Africa).