Traditional canoe figurehead from the Solomon Islands
The nguzu nguzu (sometimes called a musu musu or toto isu) is the traditional
figurehead which was formerly affixed to
canoes in the
Solomon Islands. It was attached to the canoe's
prow at the waterline, and was held to provide supernatural protection during expeditions. Nguzu nguzus typically depict bust-length figures with large heads, small arms, and circular
ear ornaments; the hands are raised to the figure's chin, sometimes clasping either another head or a bird. Their jutting jaws were traditionally held to be an attribute of spirits.[1]