Misleading evil spirits

The main goal of our bocio figurine was to protect its owners from evil spirits. Through these little wooden figures, the realm of the spirits and gods is connected to the earthly world and made visible and tangible.Timothy R. Landry, “incarnating spirits, composing shrines, and cooking divine power in vodún,” Material Religion vol 12, issue 1 (2016): 55, https://doi.org/10.1080/17432200.2015.1120086. Accordingly, the literal translation of the term bocio means “cadaver that possesses divine breath.” “Bocio (Protective Figure),” ÌMỌ̀ DÁRA, accessed August 18, 2021, https://www.imodara.com/discover/benin-fon-bocio-protective-figure-kpodohonme-peg-bocio/.

The spirit that then inhabits this distinct bocio figure is satisfied by being well-cared for and nurtured. By equipping it with certain objects, as explained above, or even ‘feeding’ it, the owner attempts to keep the spirit happy. Timothy R. Landry, “incarnating spirits, composing shrines, and cooking divine power in vodún,” Material Religion vol 12, issue 1 (2016): 64, https://doi.org/10.1080/17432200.2015.1120086. ‘Feeding’ the bocio statue refers to covering the wood in sacrificial liquids, such as palm oil and cornflower, or even bodily liquids like saliva, urine, and animal blood (see figures 13 and 14). “Bocio (Protective Figure),” ÌMỌ̀ DÁRA, accessed August 18, 2021, https://www.imodara.com/discover/benin-fon-bocio-protective-figure-kpodohonme-peg-bocio/.

Having acquired all this knowledge about our bocio figure, we should see it as an object that misleads. It misleads angry spirits and the malevolent aims of others. It leads evil forces away from the owner and their family and ensures their safety, protection, and wellbeing. Lloyd D. Graham, “A comparison of the anthropomorphic Vodun power-figure (West African bocio/bo/vodu/tro) with its Kongo counterpart (Central African nkisi),” direct Release to Academia.edu (2019): 36, https://hcommons.org/deposits/item/hc:32473.