The Moba live in north-eastern Ghana and north-western Togo. They attach great importance to their ancestors, especially their original family father, and make statues to get closer to these ancestors. As a result, the wooden statues of the Moba play an important role in their ritual life.
Woodcarvers (tikpierroa) of the Moba make wooden figures, called tchitcheri, to represent their ancestors and place them in a shrine as offerings. In general, woodcarvers are men, and any man within the community can become a woodcarver. They use a tool called a dissel, a tool that is usually used only for woodcarving. However, woodcarvers who carve tchitcheri must be sons of diviners.
These figurines are used in household shrines to ensure good health, the prosperity of domestic animals and a successful harvest for the household. They represent ancestors, particularly recently deceased family members.
Their minimalist, powerful forms — often with barely defined features — symbolize the link between humans and the spiritual world. The raw surface and aged patina reveal years of ritual use and reverence for nature. Every sculpture is one-of-a-kind, an authentic work of art that carries both soul and history, adding depth and calm to any space.
