ceremonial weapon; arrow (weapons: missiles & projectors)

Arrow (Bedamuni: samogèi). An arrow presented to initiated boys by a male relative. The name of the arrow signifies the fact that the boys are now grown-up and can marry (samogè means ‘to steal a woman’). However, the arrow is never used to shoot anything.

The main motif of this samogèi is uncommon in the central Bedamuni area. It may mean the same thing as other samogèi motifs: a symbolic representation of female genitals. The point is additionally decorated with a carving representing female genitals. This is blatantly called ‘gupi’ – unless women are present, when it is referred to as ‘morobi’ (a kind of edible nut).

This arrow was bought from Isone, of Obeimi village.

fighting

object
MUSEUM NUMBER
1982.28xiii
PLACE
COLLECTION
MEASUREMENTS
overall: 1284 mm x 12 mm x 11 mm
MATERIAL/TECHNIQUE
bamboo; plant fibre; paint; bone; wood
CATEGORY
Anthropology: Ethnography
LOCATION
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Collection Information

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