Henry Naha
Ahola
11 1/2"
total height
The Ahola is a chief kachina
of very high order. He is considered an elder and a very wise
chief. The Ahola appears at the Powamu ceremony to open the beginning
of the Kachina season. The Ahola brings prayers for a long and
healthful life.
The Ahola and Ahola Mana go
from house to house, making their appearance. On the outside
walls of each home, the Ahola draws four horizontal marks with
corn meal. The women inside the house come out and sprinkle the
Ahola with cornmeal and at the same time take some corn seeds
from the Ahola Mana's basket.
The two leave and go to the
kiva entrance and face each other. He holds his staff out for
support and strength and bends his right knee and continues kneeling
in rhythmic motion. He calls out to the kiva chief and the two
discuss the arrival of the Kachinas for the year.
The Ahola wears a round case
mask that is painted yellow and blue with an inverted black triangle
above the down turned beak. There are many stars near where the
eyes would be and the triangle is outlined in black and white.
A wide fan of feathers encircles
the mask perpendicularly and there is a grouping of small turkey
feathers in back. He wears a fur ruff and a carved turquoise
necklace. He also wears a white ceremonial kilt, held in place
by a red belt and ceremonial sash. He also wears highly detailed
white leggings and ceremonial blue moccasins.
The Ahola carries a ceremonial
staff in his left hand, decorated with evergreen branches and
topped with a pair of carved Bahos (prayer feathers). There is
also a grouping of turkey feathers tied to the base of the staff,
in an inverted conical manner. In his right hand he carries a
Mongko and a sacred ear of corn. Only a chief Kachina of importance
carries the Mongko and when he dies, these items are buried with
him.
This kachina was carved by
well known Hopi artist Henry Naha. Henry, an outstanding, well
respected carver who is a member of the Spider and Lizard Clans,
lives near Polacca, Arizona.
He was taught by one of the
masters - Cecil Calnimptewa, who is his Hopi godfather; and was
the husband of Avonne Naha, also a talented carver.
He has been an active carver
for over 20 years and learned from others such as Denis Tewa
and Joseph Dallas.
His figures always have an
excellent stance and pose suggesting great strength and pride.
The body proportions are in balance and the kachina has well
defined musculature. The hands are extremely well carved with
detailed fingers and fingernails.
He has signed the bottom of
the base: "H. Naha" along with a symbolic lizard, which
is his Clan symbol.
