Gbekre
Gbekre is a powerful spirit-deity of the Baoulé people of Ivory Coast, often depicted as a baboon-like figure serving as a judge of souls and protector against evil forces. Unlike the refined, polished ancestor statues typical of Baoulé art, Gbekre figures are intentionally rough-hewn and coarse, combining human and animal features in a deliberately unsettling manner. This crudeness is symbolic of Gbekre's role as a 'humbler' deity who judges the dead and protects the living against sorcerers and malevolent spirits. Gbekre figures, also known as bowl-bearing monkey figures, are used in various