Figure of cult of dead

Soapstone sculptures found, among other things, during agricultural work by the modern inhabitants of Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia are called pomda or pomta (singular pomdo) in the Kissi language and nomolisia (singular nomoli) in the Mende language, respectively. The Kissi regard the excavated figurines as returning ancestors, while the peoples living in Sierra Leone regard them as spirits tending the crops. In both cases, dating and identifying the ethnic group that made them is difficult. Some researchers think that they may come from the 16th century, as elements characteristic of the 16th-century Portuguese costumes have been noticed. The purpose of their making is also not entirely clear. The presented pomdo figurine probably represents a woman surrounded by children. A characteristic necklace resembling an orifice is carved on the central human figure. Figures of pomdo and nomolisia decorated with jewellery or presented with weapons could be representations of figures endowed with cult, glory or dignity. It is because they are signs of attributes of people occupying a high social position. It is highly likely that originally both pomda and nomolisia sculptures depicted deceased persons of high rank, such as village chiefs, their wives or other notables.According to some sources, cult figurines of the pomda dead were used in burial rites. It is believed that they were buried together with the deceased. Then, after a year, the statue was unearthed, wrapped in cloth, sometimes some attribute was added, such as weapons or tools, and placed on the family altar.

Katarzyna Findlik-Gawron