Baule Blolo or Spirit Spouse

A red faced boy in shorts, hands in his pockets, in sandals and in no hurry.

This blolo or spirit spouse is Baule, from Ivory Coast, West Africa, and dates to the 20th century. It is carved and painted wood. Blolo figures among the Baule are generally understood to represent a spouse from the spirit world, and are sometimes carved in modern clothes. This one has a rounded head with a black crop of hair, large outlined eyes and heavy brows. He wears a cream shirt and black shorts with pale pockets, with red arms and legs and painted sandals. He stands on a rough, unpainted block of wood. It is 2.5 inches wide, 2 deep and 9.5 high.

Leisurely and well turned out.