OGBONI/YOROUBA, Nigeria. A pair of "edan oshugbo" in bronze with a brown-green patina, representing a seated couple of ancestors, the woman holding her breasts in a symbolic gesture, the man carrying a weapon in his hands, the two linked by a chain. The Edan would be presented to the highest-ranking initiates of the 'Oshugbo' society, which worships 'Onile', 'the possessor of the earth'. When a new member was inaugurated, the novice would receive such an 'edan', at the same time as being advised to remain discreet. Height: 23 cm. Provenance: Belgian private collection.