African Arts Gallery

French Collection of African Art
The Kota reside in the eastern region of Gabon, rich in iron ore, as well as in parts of the Republic of Congo. The blacksmith, in addition to wood carving, made tools for agricultural work and ritual weapons. The sculptures, serving as a "medium" between the living and the dead who protected descendants, were linked to the bwete rites, similar to those of the Fang. Sometimes, these sculptures are two-sided, called mbulu-viti, representing both the masculine and feminine aspects. This type of piece, known as ngulu, served as a "guardian" of the relics placed above the baskets containing the remains of ancestors of high lineage. During ceremonies reserved for initiates only, the major decisions of the clan were made, during which the reliquaries ...

Inspired by Pfemba, the female effigy at the top of this clan emblem embodies the mediating ancestor figure. The Yombe decorated their textiles, mats and loincloths, with this type of diamond pattern repeated on the bust. These signs associated with proverbs glorified work and social unity. This type of phemba statuette, pfemba, also decorated the top of prestigious walking sticks, mwala.
Satin brown patina.
Belonging to the Kongo group, the Yombe are established on the west coast of Africa, in the southwest of the Republic of Congo and in Angola. Their statuary includes remarkable maternities. Source: "the Kongo gesture" Ed. Dapper Museum and "Treasures of Africa" ​​Tervuren Museum.

African Art Songye
The African initiation masks of the Songye .
In the south of the Democratic Republic of Congo, this type of female mask "kalyanga" which offers finely striated planes accentuating its volumes, is still worn today with a long costume and a long beard of natural fibers, during masked rituals. Matte patina, minor abrasions and desiccation cracks.
Height on base: 60 cm. Three variants of this type of Kifwebe mask (pl. Bifwebe) or "hunting death" (Roberts) can be distinguished: the masculine (kilume) generally with a high crest, the feminine (kikashi) with a very low crest or even absent, and finally the largest embodying power (kia ndoshi). The Songye came from the Shaba region in the DRC and settled along the Lualaba River. They are governed by the yakitengé ...

African mask quite similar to the "Déanglé", haloed with a bead of fabric covered with rope. The gaze is underlined, the projecting mouth reveals the teeth. Irregular surface, velvety patina, kaolin residue.
It was following dreams in which the spirits would manifest themselves that the masks were sculpted according to precise indications, in order to be honored through their appearances.
The Dan masks, of various designs, generally occur during very theatrical entertainment parties where women play a preponderant role. The so-called "mocking" mask called Déanglé defines an ideal of beauty and benevolence because it is sculpted in honor of the young girls of the village or famous men. Each of the masks had a name related to its function. Also used during circumcision rites, ...

The fan-shaped headdress of this female figure was worn by the Mangbetu: from a very young age, children underwent compression of the skull using raffia ties. Later, the hair was "knitted" on wicker strands and a headband was applied to the forehead in order to extract the hair and produce this characteristic headdress. The elders called beli these figures of ancestors stored out of sight and comparable to those belonging to their secret society nebeli. The statuette takes up the volumes of the Mangbetu jars. Established in the forest in northeastern Zaire, the Mangbetu kingdom expressed itself through architectural works that impressed European visitors in the 19th century. Their furniture, weapons, finery and statuary were marked by a rare aesthetic quality.

Ex. French collection of African art . Copy of the African Dan mask decorated with raffia fibers, offering a mirror patina of a deep burgundy brown.
The masks equipped with round eye sockets (called gunyeya or gunye ge ), facilitating vision, are part of the set of masks of the northern Dan and are used for racing events during the dry season. The zapkei ge

Ex-French collection of African art A means of communicating with the spirits of the ancestors, this type of statue embodies the ancestor of the clan. The numerous inlays of gilded metal help to distinguish this maternity. Light brown patina.
Desiccation cracks.
The Vili, the Lâri, the Sûndi, the Woyo, the Bembé, the Bwende, the Yombé and the Kôngo formed the Kôngo group, led by King ntotela. Their kingdom reached its peak in the 16th century with the trade in ivory, copper and the slave trade. With the same beliefs and traditions, they produced statuary with codified gestures in relation to their vision of the world. Belonging to the Kongo group, the Yombe are established on the West African coast, in the southwest of the Republic of Congo and in Angola. Their statuary ...

French collection of African art Exceptional Toma ceremonial pipe whose sculpted motif is reminiscent of the bakrogui mask, or Angbaï, linked to the ancestors. Only members of the Poro were allowed to contemplate the bakrogui mask.
Smooth brown patina, abrasions from use.
The Toma of Guinea, called Loma in Liberia, live in the forest, at high altitude. They are renowned for their landaï board masks intended to animate the initiation rites of the poro association that structures their society, and which represent spirits of the bush. As soon as the landaï mask appeared, the initiates went to the forest to stay there for a month during which they would be taught. At the end of this journey, they will be subjected to a "ritual devouring" followed by a "symbolic rebirth". ...

Belgian collection of African art.
Small in size, this object, which is not very common in traditional African art, is reminiscent of a mini brush. Equipped with a handle with a figurative pattern, the palette is bristling with numerous metal spikes. Erosions, satin brown patina. Height on base: 20 cm.
The Vili, the Lâri, the Sûndi, the Woyo, the Bembé, the Bwende, the Yombé and the Kôngo formed the Kôngo group, led by King Ntotela. Their kingdom reached its peak in the 16th century. With the same beliefs and traditions, they produced statuary with codified gestures in keeping with their vision of the world. Present along the Gabonese coast, the Vili broke away from the Kongo kingdom in the 16th century and the Loango kingdom became a powerful state. Now urbanized for the most ...

Plastic discs threaded on cotton thread, extended by a wooden amulet-pendant, representing a Pende mask named Mbangu. The ivory pendants were, until independence, a symbol of resistance to the colonial state.
The Western Pende live on the banks of the Kwilu, while the Easterners settled on the banks of the Kasai downstream from Tshikapa. The influences of the neighboring ethnic groups, Mbla, Suku, Wongo, Leele, Kuba and Salempasu are imprinted on their large tribal art sculpture. Within this diversity, the realistic Mbuya masks, produced every ten years, have a festive function and embody different characters, including the chief, the soothsayer and his wife, the prostitute, the possessed, etc. The initiation masks and those of power, the minganji, represent the ancestors and are ...

Belgian collection of African art
Within the figurative sculpture of the Kuba, the prestige objects held by members of the Kuba royal family and of the peripheral groups, Bushoong and Dengese, are decorated with engraved motifs. Similar geometric motifs also adorn the diviner's accessories such as this divination instrument with its pusher. These tools, used to solve various problems, take up animal motifs associated with the ngesh (nature spirits) but also human motifs referring to ancestors and masks. Satiny shaded brown patina. Glossy patina of use, minor desiccation cracks.
The Kuba kingdom or "people of lightning" was founded in the 16th century by the main tribe Bushoong which is still ruled today by a king, and whose capital was Nshyeeng or Mushenge.

Bwami initiation mask, indicating the acquisition of a certain individual wisdom and morality. Relatively large, this mask bears a chipped gray patina, revealing in places patterns evoking the scarifications in use.
Losses, abrasions.
Within the Léga established on the west bank of the Lualaba River, in the DRC, the Bwami society, open to men and women, organized social and political life. There were up to seven levels of initiation, each associated with emblems. The role of chief, kindi, is held by the oldest man in the clan, who must be the highest ranking. As in other forest tribes, men hunt and clear while women cultivate cassava. Social recognition and authority also had to be earned individually: the chief owed his selection to his heart (mutima), good character, ...

French collection of African tribal art .
This small-format ancient African mask refers to the antelope rooster. The horns curved backwards recall the walu, an animal linked to the Dogon cosmogony. Beautiful dry abraded patina, kaolin prints. Minor desiccation cracks.
Alongside Islam, Dogon religious rites are organized around four main cults: the Lébé, relating to fertility, the Wagem, ancestor worship under the authority of the patriarch, the Binou invoking the spirit world, and the Awa mask society concerning funerals. The "dama" is a ceremony dedicated to restoring the order of things following a bereavement. It was originally to protect themselves from the " nyama " (the soul) of the victim that the Dogon carved a mask in the image of an animal. Guaranteer of order, the ...

French collection of tribal art.
A particularity in African art, the Kronkronbali Komaland heads, meaning "children of yesteryear", often have globular features, here indistinct, made up of earthen bulges. The top is slightly concave.
The Koma (or Koma-Bulsa) are established in a region called Komaland near the border of Burkina Faso, in northern Ghana. The heads seem to have been shaped as such, devoid of bodies, reminiscent of Akan or Anyi statuary. They have the appearance of a sort of stopper, driven into the earth in a circular fashion around tumuli, tombs themselves circular and covered with stones.

The first were discovered in the 1970s-80s by German anthropologists who dated them between the 13th and 19th centuries.
Plinth included.

French collection of African art A prestigious emblem intended for chiefs, this adze represents a warrior's helmet from which the blade emerges. Abrasions of use, black oiled patina.
Upper Volta, Burkina Faso since independence, is composed of the descendants of the invaders, horsemen who came from Ghana in the 15th century, named Nakomse, and the Tengabibisi, descendants of the natives. Political power is in the hands of the Nakomse, who assert their power through statues, while the priests and religious leaders come from the Tengabisi, who use masks during their ceremonies. Animists, the Mossi worship a creator god named Wende. Each individual is said to have a soul, sigha, linked to a totemic animal.

Large spoon with twisted handle topped with a sculpted head. Grainy black patina. Desiccation cracks. Height on base: 50 cm. Established near the Niger estuary, speaking a Kwa language, the Igala formed a powerful kingdom until colonization. Human sacrifices once accompanied these ritual festivals, giving this people the reputation of headhunters. The Igala have large helmet masks called agba during ceremonies honoring their king or at commemorative funerals of dignitaries. Other types of helmet masks come out during the festivals of the egu cult celebrating the spirit of the dead and for the yam festivals.
Ref.: "L'Art tribal d'Afrique noire" ed. Assouline and "Arts du Nigeria" ed. Musée Barbier-Mueller.

Belgian collection of African art .
The female effigy adorning this chief's badge seems to refer to the ancestor of the clan. The Yombe decorated their textiles, mats and loincloths, with diamond-shaped patterns, such as those engraved on the subject's bust, in relation to proverbs glorifying work and social unity. The phemba statuette, pfemba, often adorned prestigious walking sticks, mwala .
Light brown matte patina, abrasions.
Belonging to the Kongo group, the Yombe are established on the west coast of Africa, in the southwest of the Republic of Congo and in Angola. Their statuary includes remarkable maternities. Source: "the Kongo gesture" Ed. Dapper Museum and "Treasures of Africa" ​​Tervuren Museum.

This stick carved with a pattern like the masks of the group is part of the chief's figurative insignia. Glossy black brown patina. 36 cm on base.
The Western Pende live on the banks of the Kwilu, while the Eastern settled on the banks of the Kasaï downstream from Tshikapa. The influences of neighboring ethnic groups, Mbla, Suku, Wongo, Leele, Kuba and Salempasu imprinted on their large tribal art sculpture. Within this diversity, the Mbuya masks, realistic, produced every ten years, take on a festive function, and embody different characters, including the chief, the diviner and his wife, the prostitute, the possessed, etc... The masks of initiation and those of power, the minganji, represent the ancestors and occur successively during the same ceremonies, agricultural festivals, ...

Staff topped with a figure sculpted in the image of Songye fetishes. These protective fetishes intended for homes come in various styles in the many chiefdoms of the Songye country. The Nkisi plays the role of mediator between gods and men. Large examples are the collective property of an entire village, the latter are for private use. In the 16th century, the Songye migrated from the Shaba region to settle on the left bank of the Lualaba. Their society is organized in a patriarchal manner. Their history is inseparable from that of the Luba to whom they are related through common ancestors. Very present in their society, divination made it possible to discover sorcerers and to shed light on what was affecting individuals.

Ex. Belgian collection of African art.
African mask of initiation of the Lega or even the Leka, whose society, the Bukota, welcoming both men and women, is the equivalent of the Bwami association of the Lega. Their masks are quite similar, but are distinguished by their mouth and sometimes also their square or rectangular eyes.br>
Black glossy patina encrusted with white clay.
Height on base: 33 cm.
The sculptures of the Leka, subject to the influence of the neighboring Mbole, Lega and Binja, played a role during initiation, funeral or circumcision ceremonies, and were then placed on the tomb of high-ranking initiates. Each of these figures had a name and a meaning with an educational purpose, like the Lega traditions.

Devoid of its mystical "Bonga" charge, the cavity of this teke-type sculpted figure makes the bust protrude in powerful volume, seeming to bend thick legs. Under the headdress, the face with its clear, bulging gaze offers cubist features. Smooth dark mahogany patina. Lacks, drying crack.
Established between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Gabon, the Téké were organized into chiefdoms whose leader was often chosen from among the blacksmiths. The head of the family, mfumu, had the right of life or death over his family, the importance of which determined his prestige. The chief of the clan, Ngantsié, kept the great protective fetish Tar Mantsié which supervised all the ceremonies. It is the powerful sorcerer, healer and soothsayer who "charged" the individual statuettes with ...