MC1719 Statue Kakulu Ka Mpito LEGA Cult of Bwami Figure Congo DRC

MC1719 Statue Kakulu Ka Mpito LEGA Cult of Bwami Figure Congo DRC

€495.00 Sale

CONGO DRC

LEGA Kakulu Ka Mpito


Ex collection of Mr Ph. V. (more details on request)
Male statuette probably representing Kakulu Ka Mpito, an initiate of the Bwami victim of the misfortune caused to him by his wife, Wayinda, guilty of having committed adultery during her pregnancy.

Similar figures

Page 123 and 125 "The sculpture of the Lega" D.. Biebuyck 1994
Page 35 “100 peoples of Zaire” Marc Leo Felix 1987
Page 16 ill. 22 "In search of the meaning of Bwami" Viviane Baeke
Page 159 "Secrets of Ivory" E. Cameron, 2013
Plate 69, presented as Kakulu Ka Mpito "Lega Culture. Art, Initiation and Moral Philosophy" D. Biebuyck. 1973.
Pages 122 and 123 in "Lega. Ethics and Beauty", D. Biebuyck. 2000



These statuettes were used in the context of the Bwami cult, during scenes illustrating the aphorisms of which the Lega are fond.

They were kept in wicker bags, maintained by numerous applications of oils, which gave them these incomparable colors.

The Bwami wasa grade initiatory society whose secret rites were reserved for initiates. This association organized the social structure and ensured the stability of the Lega community.
 The Lega are a Bantu forest people of Central Africa, living mainly in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, east of the Lwalaba River (the Congo River), up to high altitudes in the Mitumba Mountains, in the provinces of South Kivu and Maniema.

Features:
TYPE OF OBJECT: Statue, statuette, figurine
ETHNIC GROUP: LEGA
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Democratic Republic of Congo DRC
(ex Belgian Congo, ex Zaire).
MATERIAL: Wood, skin and rope
DIMENSIONS: Height 22 cm
24 cm with base
CONDITION: Average
See photos.
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Bibliography / Bibliography:

- Lega. Ethics and Beauty in the Heart of Africa. Daniel P. Biebuyck. 2002. KBC.
- Lega Jewels from the Benoît Rousseau Collection. Viviane Baeke, MRAC and Benoît Rousseau. 2013. BRUNEAF.
- In search of the meaning of Bwami, through a collection like no other. Viviane Baeke. Undated. Royal Museum for Central Africa.
- The sculpture of the Lega. Daniel P. Biebuyck. 1994. Galerie Hélène and Philippe Leloup- Paris-New-York.
- The arts of Zaire, Vol II Eastern Zaire. Daniel P. Biebuyck. 1986 University of California press.
- The Art of the Lega of Central Africa, Elizabeth L. Cameron. 2013. Musée du quai Branly.
- Lega Culture. Art, Initiation and Moral Philosophy Among a Central African People. Daniel P. Biebuyck. 1973. University of California Press.
- The Lega and their art. In the footsteps of a dreamer lost in Congoland. Emile-Alexandre Georges. 2005. Royal Museum for Central Africa.
- L'Art Lega - Grandeur and Humility. In the Vallois collection, Valentine Plisnier and Michel Boulanger, 2016
- Sculptures do not speak. The Balega made them speak, Daniel P. Biebuyck Cahiers de literature oral 67-68: 69-81, 2010
- The Warega and the Wabembe. An extraordinary social culture and an astonishing civilization without writing in Central Africa, Alexandre Safiannikoff, 2022, Paul Safiannikoff
- Treasures of Africa, Tervuren Museum, collective work, MRAC, 1995
(Notes by Daniel P. Biebuyck)
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CONGO DRC

Anthropomorphic statuette (Iginga) LEGA
Kakulu

Ex collection of Mr Ph. V. (more details on request)

Male statuette probably representing Kakulu Ka Mpito, a member of the Bwami society, victim of the misfortune caused to him by his wife, Wayinda, guilty of committing adultery during his pregnancy

Similar figures

Page 123 and 125 "The sculpture of the Lega" D.. Biebuyck 1994
Page 35 “100 peoples of Zaire” Marc Leo Felix 1987
Page 16 illus. 22 IA the search for the meaning of the Bwami” Viviane Baeke
Page 159 “The art of Lega” E. Cameron, 2013
Plate 69, presented as Kakulu Ka Mpito "Lega Culture. Art, Initiation and Moral Philosophy" D. Biebuyck. 1973.
Pages 122 and 123 in "Lega. Ethics and Beauty", D. Biebuyck. 2000


This kind of figurine was used in the context of the cult of Bwami, during small scenes illustrating the aphorisms of which the Lega are fond.


Bwami is a society whose secret rites were reserved for initiates. This association organized the social structure and ensured the stability of the Lega community.

The Lega are a Bantu forest people from central Africa, established mainly in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, east of the Lwalaba river (the Congo river), up to altitude in the Mitumba mountains, in the provinces South Kivu and Maniema.

Features:

TYPE OF OBJECT: Figure, statue
ETHNICAL GROUP: Lega .
ORIGIN: Democratic Republic of Congo.
DRC (former Belgian Congo, former Zaire).
MATERIAL: Wood, skin, cord
DIMENSIONS: About 8 3/4 Inches high (22 cm)
9 1/2" with the base (24 cm)
CONDITION: Medium
Please have a look on the pictures.
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