Spirit spouses: ideals of beauty

Anybody who meets beauty and does not look at it will soon be poor.
The red feathers are the pride of the parrot.
The young leaves are the pride of the palm tree. 
The white flowers are the pride of the leaves.
The well-swept verandah is the pride of the landlord.
The straight tree is the pride of the forest.
The fast deer is the pride of the bush.
The rainbow is the pride of heaven.
The beautiful woman is the pride of her husband.
The children are the pride of the mother.
The moon and the stars are the pride of the sun.
Ifa says: Beauty and all sorts of good fortune arrive.
                            (Beier and Gbadamosi 1959:30)(3)

Although beauty is not required for the spirit spouse figure to function in an individual's life, ideals of beauty are still considered during the creation of these sculptures. The Baule consider certain characteristics to be beautiful and ideal when choosing a spouse, and thus these characteristics are also portrayed in the spirit spouse. Since the spirit spouse figure is commonly commissioned based on dreams that the human partner experiences of the spirit world, the figure is designed with great care and attention to detail based on these dreams. Very often, a spirit spouse figure portrays the same attractive features and personality type as one would want in a real spouse (1).

 

Common characteristics of Baule Spirit Spouse figures (5):

  • decorative scarification marks on the face, chest, belly, and back

  • forward projection of the mouth

  • hands resting on the stomach or navel (kotoa), signify peace, and fertility in female figures

  • open eyes and a high forehead signify intelligence and awareness

  • erect posture of the sculpture signifies a 'morally upright' person

  • cylindrical torso, full breasts, and large pelvic area in female figures

  • downward looking eyes portray privacy and secrecy

  • elaborate coiffures, known as the Baule Tre, in a tripartite arrangement

  • a lengthened neck in female figures

  • thick, well defined calves signify strength

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