MC1873

MC1873 "Mr. Many Heads" LEGA Statue Sakimatwematwe Figure

€895.00 Sale

For English, please have a look below

CONGO DRC

LEGA Statue Sakimatwematwe

“Mr. Many Heads saw an elephant on the opposite bank of the Lwalaba”

This is the aphorism linked to the multi-headed wooden figurines Sakimatwematwe,
which symbolize the knowledge and clairvoyance of the initiates of the highest rank of Bwami (klutombo lwa kindi)

The initiate of the supreme grade sees in all directions, and perceives what is unknown and invisible to ordinary mortals.

"He applies his sense of justice as an arbiter between the young and the old, men and women, initiates and non-initiates, good and evil (Biebuyck, 1986, p. 86; and 2002, p. 126). Surpassing the moral codes individually conveyed by the other characters, Sakimatwematwe single-handedly sums up the power and wisdom of the initiate of the supreme grade: "master of the forest world" (nenelubanda); "main beam of a house" (1994, p. 33)" (Marguerite de Sabran, SAKIMATWEMATWE: The Face of Knowledge) in Arts of Africa and Oceania, Sotheby's catalogue, 14 Dec 2016, Paris)

According to Alexandre Safiannikoff, these very rare statues are called
Sabitwebitwe in Kalole, Pangi and Shabunda areas
Shakungukungu in Kituu and Mwenga areas
Sakimatwematwe among the Bembe and in the bordering Lega areas

On the subject (see bibliography)
Biebuyck, Ethics and Beauty p126
Biebuyck Lega culture fig 86
Biebuyck, The arts of Zaire pl50
Secrets of Ivory Pages 155 and 157
Safiannikoff, p70
Plisnier and Boulanger, Grandeur and humility, p310 to 323
--------

 The statuettes used in the context of the Bwami cult are generically called Iginga

Collective, sacred properties, they are kept secret, generally in closed wicker baskets. Their use is reserved, with some exceptions, for passages to the upper (Yananio) and supreme (Kindi) levels.

The statue is inseparable from the aphorism associated with it.

The Bwami is a hierarchical association by ranks which organizes the social structure and ensures the stability of the Lega community.
Each level passage gives rise to initiation rites where one speaks, sings, dances, mimes and exposes. A multitude of aphorisms are used during the stories and songs
" The aim is to formulate and interpret in multiple symbolic ways the principles, moral and philosophical values ​​and rules of the Bwami, to each and to inculcate them, and to grant the initiates the paraphernalia relevant to their level of grade as well as their symbolic references, and to transmit the power, prestige and privileges that result from it " (Biebuyck, Sculptures don't speak 2010)

The Lega are a Bantu forest people of Central Africa, established in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), in the provinces of South Kivu and Maniema.

Features:
 
TYPE OF OBJECT: Statue, statuette, figurine
.ETHNIC GROUP: Lega-Warega.
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Democratic Republic of Congo
(ex Belgian Congo, ex Zaire).
Provinces: South Kivu and Maniema.
MATERIAL: Wood
DIMENSIONS: Height: 31 cm.
CONDITION: Average
See photos.

--------------------------
Bibliography - Art Lega - 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
- Bela Hein, great initiate of Lega ivories, Bernard de Grunne, 2001
- Treasures of Africa, Tervuren Museum, collective work, MRAC, 1995
(Notes by Daniel P. Biebuyck)

--------------------------

CONGO DRC

LEGA Sakimatwematwe Figure

“Sir Numerous heads saw an elephant on the opposite bank of the Lwalaba”

This is the aphorism linked to the multi-headed wooden figurines Sakimatwematwe, which symbolize the knowledge and clairvoyance of the initiates of the highest rank of the Bwami (klutombo lwa kindi)
The initiate of the highest grade sees in all directions, and perceives what is unknown and invisible to ordinary mortals.

“He applies his sense of justice as arbiter between young and old, men and women, initiated and uninitiated, good and evil (Biebuyck, 1986, p. 86; and 2002, p. 126) Surpassing the moral codes individually conveyed by the other characters, Sakimatwematwe alone sums up the power and wisdom of the initiator of the supreme grade: “master of the world of the forest” (nenelubanda); “main beam of a house” (1994, p. 33)” (Marguerite de Sabran, SAKIMATWEMATWE: The face of knowledge) in Arts of Africa and Oceania, Sotheby's catalog, Dec 14, 2016, Paris)
According to Alexandre Safiannikoff, these very rare statues are called
Sabitwebitwe in Kalole, Pangi and Shabunda areas
Shakungukungu in Kituu and Mwenga areas
Sakimatwematwe among the Bembe and in neighboring Lega areas
On the subject (see bibliography)
Biebuyck, Ethics and beauty p126
Biebuyck Lega culture fig 86
Biebuyck, The arts of Zaire pl50
Secrets of Ivory Pages 155 and 157
Safiannikoff, p70
Plisnier and Boulanger, Grandeur and humility, p310 to 323
--------

The statuettes used as part of the cult of Bwami are generically called Iginga

Collective, sacred properties, they are kept secret, generally in closed wicker baskets. Their use is reserved with exceptions, for passages to the upper (Yananio) and supreme (Kindi) levels.
The statue is inseparable from the aphorism associated with it

The Bwami is an association hierarchically ranked by grade which organizes the social structure and ensures the stability of the Lega community.
Each level passage gives rise to initiation rites where we speak, sing, dance, mime and exhibit. A multitude of aphorisms are used during stories and songs
"The objective is to formulate and interpret in multiple symbolic ways the principles, moral and philosophical values ​​and rules of Bwami, to everyone and to inculcate them, and to grant initiates the paraphernalia relevant to their level of rank as well as their symbolic references, and to transmit the power, prestige and privileges that result from them" (Biebuyck, Sculptures don not speak 2010)

The Lega are a Bantu forest people of Central Africa, established in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), in the provinces of South Kivu and Maniema

Features:

TYPE OF OBJECT: Figure, statue, figurine.
ETHNICAL GROUP: Lega – Balega – Warega.
ORIGIN: Democratic Republic of Congo.
(formerly Belgian Congo, formerly Zaire).
South Kivu and Maniema provinces
MATERIAL: Wood
DIMENSIONS: About 12 1/4 inches high (31 cm)
CONDITION: Medium
Please have a look on the pictures.


  
Back to The whole collection