This object is an altar on which ceremonies for the Vodou god Atchakpa are celebrated. This is a Vodou of the Guin communities, living in the south of the Mono valley, whose capital is Glidji.
This kind of object is placed inside a temple designed for this purpose.
This object is the seat of the force that resides in fresh water. Like water, it carries people who use it to cross from one bank to another, but it also welcomes crocodiles, who sometimes eat people. It is often depicted with its mouth open, with an intact egg inside. This egg is a metaphor for life taking shape, like children. This is why 'koliko' is sometimes added to its name, from the name of yam fritters that children particularly enjoy. Children lost in the water transfer some of their strength to the Vodou Atchakpa. Worshipping the Vodou Atchakpa allows in some cases to honour children who have drowned or been eaten by crocodiles.
