Tokoloshi (Power Figure)

Tokoloshi Figure
Wood, textile, pigment
Size in cm: 44 x 10 x 10
Weight: 300g

The tokoloshi is a magical figure which is highly feared in the traditional Owambo Culture of Namibia. According to elders, the tokoloshi being comes at nighttime and brings along death. Strong believers in this mythological being have a fear of sleeping in direct contact with the ground, since saying goes, that the soul will be taken from there, while asleep. The overall power of this figure remains questionable if it would bring bad luck or simply a form of spiritual protection. The Owambo society live in the northern part of Namibia and its surrounding border countries like Angola and Botswana. This piece however is sourced from Namibia.