This staff is an emblem of Shango, the Yoruba god of thunder. It combines seemingly contradictory aspects of Shango-the idea that it is Shango who hurls thunderbolts to punish wrongdoers with the belief that he is generous, the giver of children and the protector of twins. A female devotee kneels in worship while balancing on her head the double axe motif that symbolizes the god's thunderbolts. The axes have been carved into twin heads.

As in many African cultures, beauty is linked with moral values-in this case, hard work. The success of the woman also reflects the hard work and achievement of her husband, who supports her generosity.

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