The Mahafaly, in southern Madagascar, erect these high grave steles, called ‘aloala’, on the graves of their high level personalities. Carved in lightweight, light-coloured wood, the bottoms of these ‘aloala’ usually display a standing, female figure above a flat peg, with which the grave post is anchored in the ground. This female figure holds her detached arms on her hips and displays a typical tribal knop hairstyle. A typical geometrical structure consisting of openwork carved rectangular and crescent-shaped elements extends upwards from her head, crowned by a ring. This plank structure is additionally decorated in geometrical relief. As these ‘aloala steles’ stand outdoors on the graves of the Mahafaly, constantly exposed to the rain and wind, they display a grey-white patina as the result of weather conditions, cracks and age-related erosion. Such is the case with the present example of a stele from a ‘prince’s grave’ (the left hand of the female figure and some small pieces of the upper structure are missing due to age). First third of the 20th century; h: 182 cm. (ME)

Provenance: Belgian collection.

Lit.: ‘Die Kunst des schwarzen Afrika’ by Kerchache, Paudrat, Stephan, ill. 826, 827, 828; ‘The Tribal Arts of Africa’ by Jean-Baptiste Bacquart, ill. 204, fig. 1; ‘African Art in American Collections’ by Robbins & Nooter, ill. 1404; ‘Encyclopedia of African Art and Culture’ by K.-F. Schädler, ill. p. 400.