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Alose Shrine Figure

Image Alusi/Arushi
Wooden Alose shrine figure under thatched roof with white painted face and striped hat
Alose shrine in south-eastern Nigeria, photographed by G.I. Jones, 1932-1938

This black-and-white photograph by G.I. Jones documents an Alose shrine in south-eastern Nigeria. The wooden figure stands inside a thatched structure, wearing a striped hat with feather and white facial paint. The deity holds objects in both hands among carved pots and stools. The sculpture represents spiritual forces significant in Igbo religious practice.

Community Notes

Onyeka Nwokike

Apr 18, 2026

Alose is a tutelary deity, categorized as an Alusi (also spelled Arusi or Arunsi). Unlike personal spirits (chi) or universal deities such as Chineke or Chukwu, Alusi represent specific, tangible phenomena, including the earth, rivers, extraordinary trees, or binding oaths. These deities are regarded as fast-acting and potentially capricious, requiring regular attention and sacrifice from their devotees.

Igbo Arts: Community and Cosmos

Onyeka Nwokike

Apr 18, 2026

The creation of tutelary deity cult figures was most prominent among the Northern and Isuama Igbo. This specific sculpture is associated with the Isu Ochi region. G.I. Jones noted that for such statues, the specific physical appearance was secondary to the symbolism accepted by the ritual participants.

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