Blolo Bla (Spirit Spouse)
Culture: Baule.
Location: West Africa.
Date: 1875-1900
Medium: Wood.
(Photograph From ARTstor)
The Blolo Bla is made by the Baule peoples. The small figure is carved from wood and is often used in a shrine where a person would offer it gifts. Persons with a spirit spouse will normally dedicate one night per week to him or her, when they are not with their earth spouse. 6 A spirit spouse is often times kept out of site from others. The Baule peoples believe that they need to keep not only their earth spouse happy but, also their spirit spouse. They believe that they have a complementary partner (a spirit spouse). Religion/spiritual health plays a major role in most of people’s lives, especially the Baule.
6 Monica Blackmun Visona, A History of Art in Africa. (Pentice Hall, 2001), 214.
Location: West Africa.
Date: 1875-1900
Medium: Wood.
(Photograph From ARTstor)
The Blolo Bla is made by the Baule peoples. The small figure is carved from wood and is often used in a shrine where a person would offer it gifts. Persons with a spirit spouse will normally dedicate one night per week to him or her, when they are not with their earth spouse. 6 A spirit spouse is often times kept out of site from others. The Baule peoples believe that they need to keep not only their earth spouse happy but, also their spirit spouse. They believe that they have a complementary partner (a spirit spouse). Religion/spiritual health plays a major role in most of people’s lives, especially the Baule.
6 Monica Blackmun Visona, A History of Art in Africa. (Pentice Hall, 2001), 214.