Democratic Republic of the Congo
Lega Statuette
COA provided
1st half of the XXth century
34 x 11 cm / 0,400 Kg
Wood
Optional Base (contact us)
This Lega anthropomorphic sculpture belonged to an insider of the Bwami society and was part of a set used during the steps of initiation. The teacher guides the Lega willing to be initiated in a place where the african lega masks and statuettes were exposed. It is through an attentive observation that the future insider had to guess the more or less complexe significance of these objects, real metaphors related to sayings and adages. The ones that weren't aloud to see the object, for protection, had to submit to expensive ceremonies and even sometimes join the inferior Bwami rank, the Kongabulumbu, that cost alot to the families. All these initiation steps happened during seven days and counted seven performances. The individually "gained" objects were then kept in a weaved bag to carry on the shoulder. The collectively gained objects were kept in a basket.