id:			286015
accession number:	2016.33
share license status:	CC0
url:			https://clevelandart.org/art/2016.33
updated:		2022-09-10 12:00:38.896000

Male Figure (Ofika), late 1800s or early 1900s. Africa, Central Africa, Democratic Republic of Congo, Mbole-style carver. Wood, colorant, and upholstery studs; 42.2 cm (16 5/8 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund 2016.33

title:				Male Figure (Ofika)
title in original language:	
series:				
series in original language:	
creation date:			late 1800s or early 1900s
creation date earliest:		1875
creation date latest:		1925
current location:		108A Sub-Saharan
creditline:			Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund
copyright:			

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culture:	Africa, Central Africa, Democratic Republic of Congo, Mbole-style carver
technique:	Wood, colorant, and upholstery studs
department:	African Art
collection:	African Art
type:		Sculpture
find spot:	
catalogue raisonne: 

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CREATORS

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measurements: 42.2 cm (16 5/8 in.)
state of the work:	
edition of the work: 	

support materials:


inscriptions:

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CURRENT EXHIBITIONS

	title:		Recent Acquisitions
	opening date:   2018-03-17T04:00:00
	<i>Recent Acquisitions</i>. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (March 17-June 7, 2018).

	title:		African art rotation
	opening date:   2019-02-20T05:00:00
	<i>African art rotation</i>. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer).

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LEGACY EXHIBITIONS

* The Cleveland Museum of Art (03/17/2018-06/06/2018): "Recent Acquisitions 2014-2017"

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PROVENANCE

	Field-collected by Pierre Dartevelle
	date: 1971
	footnotes: 	
	citations: 	


	Atlantic Art Partners I, LLC, New York, NY, sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art
	date: ?–2016
	footnotes: 	
	citations: 	


	The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
	date: 2016–
	footnotes: 	
	citations: 	


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fun fact: 


digital description: 
Figures such as this, known as <em>ofika, </em>were central to the initiation practices and the enforcement of laws among the all-male Lilwa association, a hierarchical organization that served educational, judicial, political, economic, and ritual functions among the Mbole. Meant to instill a moral code and to act as a cautionary symbol during initiation for Lilwa novices, ofika figures are believed to represent criminals who were ritually hanged for transgressions against Lilwa laws. The figure’s encrusted surface imitates how members covered their bodies with a substance made of ashes and palm oil during burial rites.

wall description: 
Figures such as this, known as <em>ofika, </em>were central to the initiation practices and the enforcement of laws among the all-male Lilwa association, a hierarchical organization that served educational, judicial, political, economic, and ritual functions among the Mbole. Meant to instill a moral code and to act as a cautionary symbol during initiation for Lilwa novices, ofika figures are believed to represent criminals who were ritually hanged for transgressions against Lilwa laws. The figure’s encrusted surface imitates how members covered their bodies with a substance made of ashes and palm oil during burial rites.
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RELATED WORKS

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CITATIONS

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IMAGES

web:	https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2016.33/2016.33_web.jpg
print:	https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2016.33/2016.33_print.jpg
full:	https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2016.33/2016.33_full.tif