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Pitt Rivers Museum

1958.11.3.16

Clay Mkaramo figure. The figure is roughly cylindrical, flaring at the base and tapering to the rounded head which has a small point. Probably phallic. [JC [OPS Move] 4/7/2017]


1958.11.3.16

Digital asset copyright: Pitt Rivers Museum, University of Oxford

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Collection type
Object
Description
Clay Mkaramo figure. The figure is roughly cylindrical, flaring at the base and tapering to the rounded head which has a small point. Probably phallic. [JC [OPS Move] 4/7/2017]
Long description
Mkaramo figure used to teach morals to boys in puberty rituals. [JC [OPS Move] 4/7/2017]
Cultural groups
Zigula
Date / Period
Date made: Before 1958
Date collected
From 1951-1958
Acquisition information
Donated: 1958
Materials and processes
Material Clay, Process Moulded
Dimensions
Length: max 60 mm, Depth: max 30 mm, Width: max 29 mm
Object numbers
Accession number: 1958.11.3.16 Other numbers: [male symbol] 16 526
Research and responses

Figurines from Tanganyika reads : ... [See 1958.11.3.1 for full entry] ...[Retrospective number:] 526 [male symbol] 16. Mera Kisambo. Man who stands at the gate and takes off the thigh rolls which they have worn for the period of seclusion.

Search terms: Children and Childcare, Ritual and Ceremonial, Figure, Pottery, Ceremonial Object, Religious Object, Prayer Object