This carving from the Shona tribe of southern Zimbabwe ties together an image from traditional African tribal religion with an art form that is also traditionally African. A witch doctor is realistically depicted carrying the instruments of his trade, including bags and a "marimba" which he plays as he walks. The carver has also given great attention to his manner of dress, down to the ivory pieces he wears in his hair. When working with ivory, as with wood, the grain of the material must be respected to prevent cracking, and artists must plan their work carefully to successfully bring an image out of a piece. This technique has been masterfully employed in this piece where the bend of the witch doctor's back follows the bend of the ivory.