| The
people of the Kongo carve the spirit spouse to honor the dead and gain their
protection from disruption in their lives. If one is having difficulty in their
lives, they may contract with an artist to have the spirit spouse carved, and
will honor it by placing it in a private, sacred shrine. They then devote one
night a week to honor the spirit. The Baule believe the cycle of life is a continuous
process and the spirit they are honoring is a spouse from a previous life. By
dedicating a night to this spirit every week, they are honoring the deceased
and gaining protection for this life. |
