Gravepoles from the Zaramo people

A very rare pair of beautifully carved gravepoles from the Zaramo people living in Tanzania. Poles like these were used to mark graves. 

The Zaramo people, also referred to as Dzalamo or Saramo, are an EastAfrican ethnic group found along the coast of Tanzania. Zaramo people hold their death with high respect and reverence. They believe that life is continued into death, in which the spirits of the death, Mizimu, only bring misfortune upon the living. Illness, death, infertility, and poor agriculture can all be attributed to the spitefulness of mizimu. Traditional Zaramo grave figues have a variety of names: mwana hiti (no longer in contemporary use), nguzo za makaburi (translated to grave posts), mashadidi wa makaburi (translated to grave witnesses). Thes figures are considered witnesses or representations of the deceased.