Ox - Lobi - Burkina Faso

Bronze Lobi statue of an ox with a bird on its back made with the 'lost-wax' method.

The Lobi are an ethnic group living mainly in Burkina Faso and parts of Ivory Coast and Ghana. The Lobi are known for their craftsmanship in various art forms, including bronze sculpture and the worship of ancestors and spirit fetishes.

In many African cultures, the ox symbolizes strength, fertility and stability. For the Lobi, the ox also represents prosperity and abundance, as oxen are traditionally used for agricultural work and ritual sacrifices.

The craft of bronze casting according to the 'lost-wax method' is passed on from generation to generation within the Lobi community. The process of creating a bronze sculpture begins by creating an original model in beeswax, which is covered with a mixture of clay and sand to form a mold. After the mold has dried, the beeswax is melted and the liquid bronze is poured into the cavity. After cooling, the mold is broken and the bronze sculpture is finished and polished by hand.