Description:

These rare bird sculptures are traditionally kept in the Sacred Grove of Poro. "The poro" is a male secret society within Senufo life. The poro prepares men for leadership in the community so that they might attain wisdom, accept responsibility, and gain power. Only a few associations used the Senufo bird form in Ivory Coast, therefore, this form/sculpture is rare. The Senufo people and their various subgroups live in parts of Ivory Coast, Mali and Burkina Faso.