Diviner's Tapper

Baule divination gong tappers are called Lawle, and are used by Baule diviners to call the spirits, thereby initiating a divination session. Divination among the Baule is a spirit possession event; the diviner or an assistant is taken over by a spirit of nature that the diviner may be familiar with or be in a relationship with as a tutelary. Such spirits are known as Asie Usu.

The diviner usually holds an undecorated iron gong in his hands and strikes it with the decorated striker. The striker will be specially carved by a professional carver and will depict iconography that is relevant to the particular diviner, spirit, or divination praxis in general.

This example is a fantastic work of carving; with the handle carved as a beautiful and delicate female figure with elaborate scarification, while the actual gong beater is in the form of a stylized buffalo mask, known as Bonu Amuen.

The iconography is open to speculation; perhaps the handle of the gong beater is the tutelary female spirit that the diviner has entered into a relation with, or perhaps his spirit mate who, by being represented on an important object bestows blessings upon him in his marriage and sexual life.

The mask at the top represents one of the most powerful masks in Baule traditional masking, in the form of a buffalo from the bush, which is not allowed to be viewed by women.

This contrast of the iconographic elements would have been profound to a Baule viewer; a beautiful female figure standing with the symbol of male power and magic above her head, perhaps implying that as a nature spirit, she unifies the seeming opposites.

The surface attests to a long history of use and is well worn from continued cleaning and oiling. The entire composition is well balanced and quite perfectly harmonized.