A Unique African Art, Hand Carved Makonde Shetani Figure

This extraordinary Makonde sculpture, carved masterfully from a single piece of wood, captures the eye and imagination from every angle. From the front, it appears to be a human figure carrying another on its back, an intimate, almost reverent act. The perched figure holds a long, root like structure, evoking a tree of life or ancestral connection. Yet, as you shift to view it from the back, the clarity dissolves the legs of the upper figure are mysteriously absent, creating a haunting ambiguity. What is being held? Is it a tree, a spirit, or something else entirely?

The artist uses spaces in the wood in order to create a fascinating figure, whose character seems to change completely depending on which angle you observe it from. It’s not merely a sculpture it’s a living dialogue between spirit and viewer. Possibly portraying a Shetani, this figure captures the essence of Makonde mythology. These spirits, imagined by individual carvers, manifest as hybrids of humans, animals, and demons. They embody the liminal space between the living and the dead, often representing themes of fertility, procreation, or spiritual passage. Owning this sculpture is more than acquiring art it’s welcoming an ancient narrative, a spirit born of wood, myth, and imagination, and conversation into your space.

Measurements are 4.4 inches by 17 inches