Totem stele grave stele ancestor figure (1) - Hardwood - AloAlo - Mahafaly - Mahafaly Madagascar

MF310 headboard of an Alo. Alo grave stele of Mahafaly, holy Zebu, approx. 1950, Ampanihy region 30 x 20 x 17 cm, 870 gr. The funeral stelae (Alo. Alo) are set up by the Mahafaly ethnic group according to old rites as a reminder of the deceased and as a spiritual task for the next generation. The piles are commissioned according to the specifications of the head of the family and tell of the life or wishes of the dead. The Mahafaly are not materially arrested, but very active mentally / spiritually. After death, the soul (razana) of all human beings changes into sacred animals for you to reach universal unity with the creator god (Andriamanitra) in several stages. These ancestors (mostly ibis, zebu, crocodile) are often depicted on the important head part of the Alo. Alo. The post below always shows astrological motifs. These stelae are draped on the stately and stone box grave compared to the houses and often surround the central mortuary as a guardian and ambassador. The many attached zebra horns come from sacrificed cattle and testify to the man's rich heritage. The more sumptuous a grave, the more prestigious the family. A zebu (omby) is very often used as the head part. In the arid south, these cattle form part of the livelihood for families and are also a status symbol. The continued existence of the clans depends on the livestock, which is why this is revered as sacred. The dry climate preserves the wood for a long time, but the elements trace their marks on the sculptures. Rotted or broken piles will then be removed by the family, if still resident. However, the top (head) of the statue is important and is sometimes separated and kept, or sold. Sometimes a "description of the history" is made by subsequent family members and fragments of the ancestral stelae are cut out, supplemented or destroyed. The hardwood menabe used is not rotten or brittle inside! Due to the fact that the surface is outside, it is heavily weathered, oxidized and overgrown with lichen. The rare rain has washed deep gullies into the wood and there have been demolitions in recent decades. These are reliable age indicators that cannot be created artificially. The real Alo. Alo are an artistic rarity because the ancestor cult, which comes from Papa Neuginea, found physical expression in these stelae only in Madagascar worldwide. The export of cultural property / antiques is strictly limited in Madagascar. Some of our old originals have been family-owned since 1975 and, due to the increasing collector's value, also represent a fruitful investment. We supply a simple, discreet steel stand, because the sculpture is not free-standing. (Base 10 x 10 cm height approx. 12 cm) . The figure can be attached to it and can be rotated in all directions. This object is suitable for normal, insured parcel shipping and is packed break-proof and carefully by us.