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Original Dimensions: Original Materials: Spirit possession is a common phenomenon in the traditional, spiritual or religious life of the people of Ghana. This sculpture portrays a type I saw in a shrine. It represents a girl who was medium and when possessed by a Baule god during consultation spoke in Baule Language, which was translated into Twi by a man of Baule extraction. Under normal circumstances she did not speak or understand the language. At the precise time of possession, her head was jerked backwards, the face was uplifted and was grim, the neck muscles were thrown into strong irregular contractions and the whole body and limbs assumed a flexed rigid posture. This ritual could go on for any length of time and when she had completed the diagnosis and prescribed treatment, her body quickly relaxed into normality. The interesting thing was that she was always unaware of the whole event. Click on image for details on available reproductions of this piece ->>
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