Yorùbá
Herbalist’s Staff (Opa osanyin or Opa erinle)
Yoruba, Early 20th century
Scroll
Yorùbá
Herbalist’s Staff (Opa osanyin or Opa erinle)
Yoruba, Early 20th century
Physical Qualities
Iron, 24 5/8 × 12 3/16 × 9 7/16 in. (62.5 × 31 × 24 cm.)
Credit Line
Gift of Barry and Toby T. Hecht, Bethesda, Maryland
Object Number
1990.162
Herbalists enlist the aid of the god of divination, Osanyin, or the god of medicine, Erinle, in their work against mental and physical illness caused by supernaturally evil people. These people change into birds at night to extract fluids and spirit from individuals. A staff of birds refers to the herbalist's understanding of and power over these malevolent people.
"African Artistry," 1980, High Museum of Art, Atlanta, Henry Drewall, #29.
