According to Dobbelmann, this pair belongs to the style of "stem-shaped pairs surmounted by a Janus head on each stem" (1976:14ff). Among the notable features are the long brass necks with clay cores around iron rods. Such pairs become the personal property of the new ogboni member after initiation. Upon his death, the chain must be broken, the figure losing hence its magical power. What the double-faced head means has yet to be ascertained. Unusually, in this case the staffs are indissolubly linked not only by the brass chain at the head, but also at the other end by the iron rods shaped in the form of a loop. Author: Michael Schönhuth