Mortuary Post

This post testifies to the artistry of the Belanda and Bongo peoples who, between the 17th and 20th centuries, inhabited what is today a largely deserted, war-torn part of western South Sudan. After the 1880s, a rare form of figural carving emerged in the region: large posts that served as watchful guardians over markets, thoroughfares, and the graves of prominent community members. Mortuary posts like this one were raised by relatives of the deceased in lavish ceremonies, usually a year after their death. Scholars debate the extent to which these effigies were supposed to represent the deceased ancestor. Though some posts incorporate personal adornments and scarification patterns, such details—if they ever existed—have disappeared from this example. Made of typically water-resistant mahogany, the heavily worn surfaces of this post suggest many years spent outdoors, guarding its position during annual, flooding rains.