Memorial stela (waakaa or waga)

Konso artist

Brooklyn Museum photograph

Object Label

Stelae (waaka or waaga in the Konso language) memorialize specific male Konso ancestors. Waaka emphasize an ancestor’s individual deeds, as well as his connection to shared experiences and values. They appear on outdoor platforms with other sculptures. Waaka only memorialize xhe’tallitta (heroes), certain religious dignitaries, or warrior-hunters. The man at center wears a warrior’s bracelets and stacked necklaces. His hand rests on his phallus, unlike figures of castrated, defeated warriors. Representing a wife and mother, the jewelry-adorned woman at left would stand alongside him. As the wooden posts decay outdoors, the deceased joins the larger ancestral community. In contrast, the Huastec sculpture at right was carved in stone to be permanent. This ongoing Konso memorial practice has precedents dating back as far as the eleventh or thirteenth century.

Caption

Konso artist. Memorial stela (waakaa or waga), 19th century or earlier. Wood, 39 1/4 x 4 1/4 x 4 1/4 in. (99.7 x 10.8 x 10.8 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Serge and Jodie Becker-Patterson , 1998.124.1. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 1998.124.1_edited_SL3.jpg)

Gallery

Not on view

Collection

Arts of Africa

Title

Memorial stela (waakaa or waga)

Date

19th century or earlier

Medium

Wood

Classification

Sculpture

Dimensions

39 1/4 x 4 1/4 x 4 1/4 in. (99.7 x 10.8 x 10.8 cm)

Credit Line

Gift of Serge and Jodie Becker-Patterson

Accession Number

1998.124.1

Rights

Creative Commons-BY

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