Three Transformed Shamans Flying Into The Spirit Realm
The images in this print came from several rock shelters in the Kondoa-Irangi districts of central Tanzania (a UNESCO World Heritage Site). In her book entitled “Africa’s Vanishing Art: The Rock Paintings of Tanzania, archaeologist Mary Leakey speculated that the figure on the upper left hand side of the print might represent a hunter dressed in animal skins. However, in the context of archaeologist David Lewis-Williams’ ethnographically-based “shamanistic model,” it, and the other figures in this print, more likely depict shamans in altered states of consciousness that have transformed into part-human, part-animal beings on out-of-body journeys. The figure on the upper left has a plump hairy body, a long bushy tail and short ears with tufts on the top of its head giving it the appearance of a carnivore-- quite possibly a Honey badger--a creature whose association with bees and honey imbued it with supernatural potency. However, the thighs and calf’s on its legs are very human-like and the stubby arms are uncharacteristic of an animal. The four digits representing hands or claws were a common visual symbol used by Bushmen shaman-artists to indicate persons in altered states. The long streamers flowing from its arms and shoulders were described by nineteenth-century /Xam Bushman informants as accoutrements used on by shamans in altered states. Like death, flying was a Bushman metaphor for altered states of consciousness.
The second figure on the upper right of the print appears human-like in overall form, but extremely animal-like in some of its other physical attributes such as hands with four claw-like digits and its long, cartoony tear-shaped ears. It too appears to be flying which was a Bushman metaphor for altered states. The image below them is a human-like angelic looking figure holding a long staff. It also appears to be in flight as suggested by the draped wing-like streamers flowing from its arms. Images such as these are extremely rare in the Kondoa rock paintings.
(From M.D. Leakey, 1983. Redrawn by J.A. Cavallo).
The images in this print came from several rock shelters in the Kondoa-Irangi districts of central Tanzania (a UNESCO World Heritage Site). In her book entitled “Africa’s Vanishing Art: The Rock Paintings of Tanzania, archaeologist Mary Leakey speculated that the figure on the upper left hand side of the print might represent a hunter dressed in animal skins. However, in the context of archaeologist David Lewis-Williams’ ethnographically-based “shamanistic model,” it, and the other figures in this print, more likely depict shamans in altered states of consciousness that have transformed into part-human, part-animal beings on out-of-body journeys. The figure on the upper left has a plump hairy body, a long bushy tail and short ears with tufts on the top of its head giving it the appearance of a carnivore-- quite possibly a Honey badger--a creature whose association with bees and honey imbued it with supernatural potency. However, the thighs and calf’s on its legs are very human-like and the stubby arms are uncharacteristic of an animal. The four digits representing hands or claws were a common visual symbol used by Bushmen shaman-artists to indicate persons in altered states. The long streamers flowing from its arms and shoulders were described by nineteenth-century /Xam Bushman informants as accoutrements used on by shamans in altered states. Like death, flying was a Bushman metaphor for altered states of consciousness.
The second figure on the upper right of the print appears human-like in overall form, but extremely animal-like in some of its other physical attributes such as hands with four claw-like digits and its long, cartoony tear-shaped ears. It too appears to be flying which was a Bushman metaphor for altered states. The image below them is a human-like angelic looking figure holding a long staff. It also appears to be in flight as suggested by the draped wing-like streamers flowing from its arms. Images such as these are extremely rare in the Kondoa rock paintings.
(From M.D. Leakey, 1983. Redrawn by J.A. Cavallo).
PRINT NUMBER 30
40 x 65 cm
40 x 65 cm
