Assongu

A terracotta tradition of south-eastern Ivory Coast

Bibliographic Data

ID2511235
AuthorsRobert T Soppelsa (corresponding author)
Year1987
Volume57
Issue1
Pages51-73
Publication date1987-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueAfrica (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0001-9720 • E-ISSN: 1750-0184
PublisherCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.2307/1160182
OpenAlexW2169481883
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited13

Opening ParagraphAssongu are small terracotta figurines, sculpted to represent a spirit force which originated on, and is said to emanate from, an island in the Aby Lagoon of southeastern Ivory Coast. The sculptures are called 'fetish' figures by the people who make and use them. They are material representations of the powerful spirit force called Assongu (which I write with an upper-case A for clarity), which is propitiated by offerings presented to the sculptures. The tradition exists among the Eotilé, the Anyi of Sanwi, the Abure and the Nzema, all of whom live around the Aby Lagoon (see map

Archaeology · Art · Art history · CLARITY · Desert (philosophy · Paragraph · Political science · Sculpture · Terracotta · Visual arts · African history and culture studies · Cultural Identity and Heritage · Historical Studies and Socio-cultural Analysis · History · Law

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