Iagalagana figures are made by the Mumuye people from northeastern Nigeria. The figures play a role in various rituals, where they are carried or placed. They are seen as carriers of spiritual power and can be used as 'intermediaries' to connect with the spiritual world. They also serve as protective objects against evil forces. But they also occasionally play a role during fertility ceremonies, with the aim of causing rain and thus ensuring a good harvest.
Typical for the Iagalagana figures are their long and slender form and simplified or abstracted facial features. Subtle scarifications can be seen on the side of the head. Textiles, vegetable fibers and iron rings are applied to the hips and neck.
The item is in good condition. It has traces of use and signs of age. Examples of this are the traces of woodworm (which has been gone for a long time) and some tears in the textile around the hips. They give the figure a weathered look. The figure has a patina with a soft shine, mainly on the head.
