Yoruba
Esu Dance Staff (Ogo Elegbara)
Can I see it?
Not on view at present
Where is “Esu Dance Staff (Ogo Elegbara)” now? Collection: Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago. Not on view at present. Checked September 29, 2026.
Art Institute of Chicago
Chicago, United States
It belongs to the collection, but is not on display at present.
- Checked
- In this state since
- Source
- The museum
About the sculpture
This dance staff for the deity Eshu depicts a warrior flanked by a bound captive and a nursing mother. This work was made during a turbulent period of civil war. The warrior’s cap is depicted as a crooked phallus, which is a symbol of Eshu—the divine messenger, facilitator, and provocateur—and allows for the staff to be hooked over the shoulder.
Art Institute of ChicagoCC BY 4.0
Details
- Accession number
- 1991.396
What it shows
In the catalog
Sources
- Art Institute of Chicago
- Image: Art Institute of Chicago — CC0
