Mwana Hiti Doll figure from Tanzania , ex- private collection, WA, 7 1/4", inv. # 5070

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Mwana hiti, a term that means some variant of "child made of wood", refers to iconic figures that depict a highly stylized female torso with a crested head. The figures are commonly referred to as "dolls" but they are anything but dolls as they play significant roles in the spiritual lives of a wide range of people in Tanzania. They are almost exclusively used by female initiates during seclusion and coming out ceremonies. Smaller ones are often worn as amulets by women wishing to enhance their fertility. The figures are also found on thrones, stools and staffs of the region and often times represent ancestors and are depicted in pairs. - References from "Mwana Hiti" by Marc Felix