 GIRYAMA - RABAI / RIBE 63" (160 cm) tall $4000 |
 KOMA, GIRYAMA -KAUMA 80" (203.2 cm) tall, $4200 |
 GIRYAMA 58" (147.3 cm) tall, $2500 |
GIRYAMA - RABAI / RIBE 63" (160 cm) tall $4000 |
KOMA, GIRYAMA -KAUMA 80" (203.2 cm) tall, $4200 |
GIRYAMA 58" (147.3 cm) tall, $2500 |
 GIRYAMA - RABAI / RIBE 68" (172.7 cm) tall $4500 |
 GIRYAMA 70" (177.8 cm) tall $3000 |
 KOMA, GIRYAMA 68" (172.7 cm) tall $4200 |
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 GIRYAMA - KAUMA 69" (175.3 cm) $2200 |
 GIRYAMA 67" (170 cm) tall $1000 |
 KIGANGO, Post 6 GIRYAMA 67" (170 cm) tall SOLD |
 GIRYAMA - RABAI / RIBE 62" ((157.4 cm) SOLD |
 KIGANGO, Post 11 GIRYAMA 79" (200.6 cm) tall SOLD |
"Ranged over 5,000 square miles of the Kenya Coast and its immediate hinterland and pushing south for a little way along the Tanzanian coast are the Mijikenda. They number at least 350,000 and comprise nine subgroups with mutually intelligible dialects and very similar customs. The largest subgroup is the Giriama.
The carved, wooden, anthropomorphic Vigango (singular Kigango) are better regarded as memorial posts placed for the deceased's spirit (koma) than as "tombstones," for they are not normally erected at the deceased's grave nor at the time of his burial. They are often placed together with much less elaborate memorial sticks, to one side of the homestead in a small hut called a kigojo which is used by men for everyday conversation. The Vigango memorial posts are reported among most of the other Mijikenda as well as the Giriama. These other people include the Kambe, Ribe, Kauma, Chonyi, Jibana and Rabai."
---by David Parkin in VIGANGO: Commemorative Sculpture of the Mijikenda of Kenya by Ernie Wolfe III
PLEASE NOTE: These posts do not belong to Hamill Gallery.
Since the Vigango are difficult to find, we have agreed to show them on the website but they remain in England in the possession of their owner, Karl Knight, who acquired them in Africa. While we have not actually seen any of the posts pictured here (other than in photographs furnished by Karl), we have purchased one of his Vigango posts for our private collection and were pleased to note, when it arrived - carefully packaged - from England, how accurately the actual object had been presented in the photographs he had sent.
Hamill Gallery receives no commission whatsoever from the sale of these objects; our sole interest is to make their existence known as widely as possible through our website.
Any inquiries regarding purchase or shipping may be addressed directly to Karl Knight at karl@vigangopost.co.uk or, if you prefer, through us at thamill@tiac.net
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