Carved wooden staff in form of human head

Carved wooden staff tapering column surmounted by a human head probably representing Sopona (Shapona), amuletic concerned with smallpox, Yoruba people, Nigeria, 1860-1900

Sopona (Shapona) is the eldest son of the Yoruba creator god Olodumare. He was given control of the earth with the power to reward or punish its inhabitants. According to the traditional religion of the Yoruba people of Nigeria, Sopona nourished humanity by bestowing them all the grains of the earth, but could express his divine displeasure by causing these same grains to emerge from the skin in the form of smallpox pustules.

This staff was likely used in a shrine controlled by priests associated with the god's worship. Before the early 1900s, it was believed that the priests themselves could cause smallpox outbreaks through their close relationship with Sopona. Suspecting these individuals of deliberately spreading the disease, British colonial rulers banned the worship of Sopona in 1907. Devoted followers continued to honour the god, however, who has become known as Babalú-Ayé in several religions that developed from Yoruba beliefs in the Americas.

Smallpox was declared eradicated from western Nigeria in 1980 following extensive cultural and health education programmes.