– 123 –
77) remarks: „ninkinanka“ is widely honou-
red as the spirit who gives rain, bestows
riches, and brings children to the infertile.
„Ninkinanka“ appears in the form of a ser-
pent resembling the boa constrictor, which
is found abundantly in the swamps of the
Baga‘s habitat.
In this context, the Baga Serpent figures
can be interpreted as an incarnation of the
spirit „a-Mantsho-na-Tshol“ in the form of
„ninkinanka“, an archetypal image which
the Baga encountered upon their arrival at
the coast.
The serpent headdresses are clan insignia,
each representing one section of a village
(Lamp: 1996: 80).
H: 159 cm
Provenance
Gaston de Havenon (1904-1993), New York,
USA
North German Private Collection (1975)
Exhibited
Washington D. C.: Museum of African Art:
The de Havenon Collection, 1971
Vgl. Lit.: Lamp, Frederick John et al., Python
Spirit on the Baga Coast, Milan 2023
€ 6.000 - 12.000
Photo:
Maurice Nicaud,
1957