Nguzunguzu (musumusu) Solomon Islands

This is a God, who is half a man & half a dog. It is called Nguzuguzu. I find it very interesting because it has been made by the Solomons for hundreds of years. The one that holds a skull means head hunting (during the time that the Solomons exercised cannibalism) and the nguzugugu that holds a bird means PEACE.

What is a nguzuguzu anyway? It has been a canoe prow in Solomon Islands for years that go back in time that I cannot say. This canoe prow existed when the missionaries came to the Solomon islands in 1850s. Each nguzuguzu that I have in my galerie is unique. A good thing about carving is that each piece has its own expression, life and amusement.