Pair of Dance Wands for Eshu (Ògo Elégbà)

During the festival procession each year, a devotee paraded with these wands to appease and honor Eshu, lord of crossroads, guardian of markets, and messenger between deities and humans. Held close to the body and waved back and forth, the wands performed the devotion of its owner. Strands of cowrie shells, a form of money, conveyed wealth and prestige on Eshu. The two figures here represent a unique aspect of the dance wands produced in Igbomina. They symbolize Eshu’s ability to bring contradictory forces into productive harmony.