Opa Osanyin with Blade-like Stem

In ceremonies enacted to heal and protect their client-patients, Yoruba healers call upon Osanyin, god of divination, and Enrile, god of herbal medicine through words, deeds and ritual objects. Among the latter are iron staffs featuring a central bird or bird-like creature representing Osanyin, “the one who sees all” or possibly the grand priest Orunmila, orisha of wisdom and divination. Ideally the smaller birds, representing witches, should number 16 a propitious number in Yoruba numerology but often they do not, either through loss or lack of space. In this example the birds number a dozen and none are missing. It is at least a century old, tightly constructed and beautifully wrought. The strongly horizontal central bird, calling to mind a large hornbill with its massive outstretched beak and trailing tail feathers, is skillfully juxtaposed against the strong verticality of the staff. The piece is unusual in having a blade-like stem rather than the more typical slender rod. 29.5″ tall.

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