Obarima African Wall Totem Ebony

Obarima African Wall Totem Ebony by Tekura is a hand-carved African home decor sculpture rooted in the Ghanaian tradition of masks as guardians of space, community, and ancestral connection. Designed for the collector who understands that the most powerful objects in a home carry meaning that runs deeper than design.

Where it lives beautifully:

• Entryway wall: honouring the long Ghanaian tradition of the mask as guardian of a space and all who enter it
• Living room or dining room: a commanding focal point along a feature wall
• Paired with Obaa Mask Ebony: together they form a complete ancestral installation

In Ghanaian culture, masks represent a profound connection to the ancestral realm, embodying the spirits of ancestors and supernatural forces. They act as intermediaries between the living and the dead, reinforcing the importance of community, tradition, and cultural continuity. Placing a mask in a space of gathering is not merely a design choice. It is an act of cultural intention.

Obarima is the male form of that intention. Carved from responsibly sourced Cedrela cedar wood, crafted from offcuts in keeping with Tekura's commitment to sustainability, he stands at over six feet tall in a deep, uniform black. His relief panels carry geometric patterns rooted in the Adinkra visual tradition of the Akan people, one of West Africa's most significant and ancient symbolic languages. The upper crown panel is rendered in a diamond crosshatch pattern; the lower base panel in circular motifs. The carving is precise, considered, and deeply intentional. Every line is a mark of the artisan's hand.

Why You'll Love It

• Rooted in Ghanaian cultural tradition: In Ghana, masks have long been placed in spaces of gathering as guardians, reinforcing community and continuity.
• Adinkra-inspired relief carving: The geometric patterns on the relief panels are rooted in the Adinkra visual tradition, one of the Akan people's most significant and ancient symbolic languages.
• Hand-carved by Tekura: Each piece is carved from responsibly sourced Cedrela cedar wood, honouring both the craft and the environment.
• Uniform ebony finish: A deep, consistent black throughout, giving Obarima a bold, architectural presence that works in any interior palette.
• Monumental scale: At over six feet tall, the Black Mask commands a wall the way few objects can, without competing with the space around it.
• Pairs with Obaa: Obarima is the male expression of the Black Mask. Paired with his female counterpart Obaa, they create a complete and deeply intentional installation.
• Ready to hang: Wall-mounted hardware included.
• Limited availability

Product Details

• Material: Responsibly sourced Cedrela cedar wood with aluminium relief panels
• Artisan: Tekura Design, Ghana
• Dimensions: 13 in W x 14.17 in D x 77.17 in H
• Finish: Uniform black, no distressing
• Relief pattern: Diamond crosshatch (upper) and circular (lower) Adinkra-inspired geometric carving
• Display: Wall-mounted
• Sold: Individually
• Origin: Ghana

Artisan Delivery & Care

Large-scale works require more than standard shipping. To preserve the integrity of your piece, each large-scale piece undergoes a specialised crating process from our studio to your home.

• Insured Studio-to-Door Transport: full protection for your investment
• Protective Structural Packaging: designed to maintain the finish of statement-sized works
• International Ease: for U.S. collectors, all duties and customs are paid by us; no additional fees upon delivery
• Seamless Arrival: arrives ready for immediate installation

Note: A bespoke artisan handling cost is reflected at checkout to ensure a secure, insured journey.

A mask placed in a space of gathering is not decoration. In the Ghanaian tradition, it is a declaration, that this space is protected, that those who gather here are held by something larger than themselves. Obarima carries that declaration into your home. Wherever people come together, he belongs.

Honour the ancestors. Guard the space. Bring Obarima home.