Provenance

Totem Meneghelli Gallery, Johannesburg

Notes

The Sejen bird staff is a ceremonial sculpture of the Senufo people, symbolizing knowledge, authority, and the protection of future generations. Topped with one or more stylized birds, these staffs were displayed during important communal rituals—such as hoe competitions, funeral ceremonies, and agricultural festivals—and were closely associated with the Poro society, the male civic and spiritual organization.

The term Sejen means “the one who follows and protects the younger generation,” reflecting its role as a guardian symbol. Elders carried these staffs in ceremonies to honour ancestors, celebrate collective labor, and affirm the continuity of wisdom and leadership within the community.