Yoruba Chango Dance Wand

Thunder, held in the hand.

This Chango dance wand, wood with bronze embellishments, is Yoruba, from Nigeria, West Africa, 20th century. Devotees of Chango, the Yoruba god of thunder, carried wands like this when dancing in his honor, and the double axe at the top stands for his thunderbolts. Here a standing woman balances the double blade above a tall, finely incised hairstyle. Coils of metal circle her arms, her eyes are wide and round, and the wood has a deep reddish shine above a short round handle. 19.25 inches high.

She carries the storm on her head and looks entirely unbothered.