African Arts Gallery

In addition to their weapons and prestigious objects and their funerary sculpture, the Sundi made use, individually and collectively, of conjuration fetishes often equipped with a magic charge. The naturalist-type character carries a load made up of a mass of various elements. Baby bird down remains on its headdress. Nuanced brown patina, desiccation cracks.
The Vili , the Lâri, the Sûndi, the Woyo, the Bembe, 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 a statuary endowed with a codified gesture in relation to their vision of the world.

This type of head ornament is intended for members of the upper echelons of the bwami secret society, governing the lega social structure. This society, which instructs its members in terms of moral perfection, is open to circumcised adults and their wives. These prestigious headdresses are part of the masengo, meaning that they are sacred and can therefore only be worn by initiates. The owner cannot part with it during his lifetime. Bwami has different degrees, with yananio and kindi being the highest. The materials used vary, they can be clothing buttons, cowrie shells, pearls or cocoa beans. Cowrie shells, an ancient currency in Africa, line a cap carefully woven from natural fibers. This type of headgear was originally topped with elephant hair in reference to the destructive power ...

Small African fetish sculpture depicting an ancestor. This type of carving formed an individual type protective charm.
The abdomen is fitted with a cavity for a magic charge. Satin patina, slight erosions and cracks.


Established between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Gabon, the Téké were organized into chiefdoms whose chief was often chosen from among the blacksmiths. The head of the family, mfumu, had the right to 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. According to the Téké, wisdom was absorbed and stored in the abdomen. It is also according to the directives of the sorcerer that the worship was ...

African mask of initiation to the Bwami, supposed to indicate the acquisition of a certain wisdom and individual morality. A heart-shaped face, surrounded by small cells, is pierced with oblique eyes and a large striated mouth. Clear matte patina. Desication cracks, 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 ...

African mask initiated by the Lega or the Leka east of the Lualaba River, whose society, the Bukota, welcomes both men and women , is the equivalent of the Bwami association of the Lega. The two adjoining faces offer concave faces underlined by regular perforations, the mouths are notched.
The Leka sculptures, 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 for educational purposes, following the example of lega traditions. Chipped kaolin patina.

Mumuye zoomorphic masks in African art
Mumuye African masks were used during the ceremonies closing the initiatory periods of the " sons of va "... and during great events. Each group had a mask carved to symbolize its identity, buffalo, monkey, leopard, etc. ... which was called va or vabou . This mask takes the form of a helmet whose angular top extends horizontally from a bird's head. Large gaping pupils have been arranged under this projection, giving a fantastic aspect to the object. Velvety matte patina with resinous residues.
The statuary emanating from the northwestern region of the Middle Benue, from the Kona Jukun, to the Mumuye and up to the Wurkun populations is characterized by a relative absence of ornamentation and a refined stylization. The 100,000 ...

Dressed in a loincloth and wearing necklaces, the realistically depicted subject offers an imposing head in which the eyes seem blind. Golden khaki patina.
The dwarves of the king's entourage or Oba, who appeared in the 15th century, were intended not only for diversion, but also for surveillance. Occult gifts were indeed attributed to them. According to Fagg, these characters were also acrobats and illusionists. Their bronze figures were to adorn the altars of the ancestors.

Before the destruction of the palace of the Kingdom of Benin in 1897, the divine character of the kings, the Oba, was illustrated by multiple codified works celebrating their power. Warlike scenes glorifying them were reproduced on narrative plaques, in bronze, and affixed to the walls. Sumptuous ...

The African masks of the Punu are distinguished by their elaborate headdresses made of braided shells. This example of gentle symmetry is topped with a single shell that matches the morphology of the face. Height on base: 48 cm. Abraded matte patina, desiccation cracks, chip. The white masks of Gabon, itengi, (pl. bitengi) were associated with the various secret societies of Gabon, including the Bwiti, Bwete, and the Mwiri ("to lead"), the latter being spread out over several levels of initiation, to which all Punu men belonged, and whose emblem was the caiman (hence, for some, the motif with saurian scales). This object, evoking a deceased young woman, was exhibited during the dance called Okuyi. These powerful secret societies, which also had a judicial function, included several ...

Typical of the Kwele, features concentrated in the concave area of ​​the face, which is highlighted by a discreet incision marking the mouth. Depending on the presence of horns and their arrangement, the masks are called pipibudzé , Ekuku zokou , etc... and are associated with the ancestors or spirits of the forest, " ekuk ". Two-tone abraded patien, crack. Height on base: 42 cm. A tribe of the Kota group, the Kwélé , Bakwélé , live in the forest on the northern border of the Republic of Congo. They live from hunting, agriculture and metallurgy. Practicing the cult called Bwété borrowed from the Ngwyes, which was accompanied by obligatory initiation rites, they used at the end of the ceremonies the ekuk masks evoking the antelope whose horns join in a loop under the chin. The blood ...

This rare African male statue, dedicated to ancestor worship, healing or divination rites, presents the "mabinda" relief motifs. These patterns were scarified on the skin of adolescents. Determination and power emerge from this work. Abraded polychrome patina, minor cracks, erosions at the top.
The Punu are a Bantu people of Central Africa established mainly in the south of Gabon, also in the Republic of Congo in the Niari region. They live in independent villages divided into clans and families. Social cohesion is ensured by the Moukouji society, whose essential role is to subjugate the evil spirits of the forest.

From a basketry base rises a wooden head covered with leather. The facial features are fine, underlined with scarifications, and teeth are represented by sticks. The headdress, generally made up of scrolled horns, is here made up of horns. The dancer's costume was made up of a large trellis of cords in raffia, and, more recently, in cotton fabric. The masks were coated with palm oil before use, and placed in the light of day so that their leather softened and adopted a satisfactory luster. Leopard societies, such as the male society Kpe, Ngbe among the Aro, used this model of crests for initiation ceremonies or funerals of members of the leopard. association, but also during agricultural rituals. The hairstyle would represent that of the young women named Moninkim at the end of their ...

Mask with a halo of a flat surface provided with a handle.
In the 16th century, the Songyes migrated from the Shaba region to settle on the left bank of the Lualaba, in Katanga and Kasai. Their society is organized in a patriarchal way. 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 the causes of the misfortunes which struck individuals. The masked performances of male masks provided an opportunity to carry out punitive expeditions and maintain social order. The female masks, supposed to be equipped with divinatory faculties, activated the benevolent spirits with their dances.

Originally designed to frighten, this heavy African mask carved from dense wood, inlaid with brass nails, has various growths imprisoning its features.
Abrasions and desiccation cracks.
It is mainly in the west of the Ivory Coast that the Bété use masks whose style has been influenced by the gla mask society glaé of the Wobé and Guéré populations, together referred to as Wé or "the men who forgive easily", himself belonging to the group cultural Krou , these traditions having been transmitted to them and taught by the Nyabwa . Of warlike origin but also participating in the resolution of conflicts, this sacred mask is worn accompanied by amulets which protect its wearer from its power against witchcraft. It is in order to strengthen his power through the exercise of ...

Ceremonial club-scepter whose shaft bears a pattern sculpted in the image of the "phumbu" chief's mask. The club is dug with a cavity. Orange wood, satin finish, coated with a partially abraded black patina.
Desication cracks.
Height on base: 50 cm.
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 ...

Flanked by pierced ears like the ear flaps of the Eastern Boa, the "bavobongo" once were, and a mouth lined with sparse teeth, this African tribal mask conferred a impressive appearance to its wearer, accentuated by the contrast of colors. Supposed to render invulnerable and with the aim of terrifying the enemy, the African mask kpongadomba or "Pongdudu" of the Boa was ordered by the chief kumu who offered it to the bravest warrior. It was then kept in his wife's hut. Partially abraded two-tone patina.
Close to the Mangbetu and the Zande, the Boa inhabit the savannah in the north of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Some Boa would have used these masks for educational purposes with children since the pacification of the Uele region.

The Eket sculpt circular masks for agricultural festivals and funeral ceremonies of the Ekpo society. The face of this small mask symbolizes the "Grandmother", a creative spirit linked to the full moon. The triangular decorative motifs refer to the necklaces of animal teeth worn by members of the Idiong diviners' society during certain ceremonies. A collar surrounded the mask, attached to the perforations of the contours, but these masks could also be suspended.
Dark patina, abrasions and chips. Secret societies are numerous among the Ibibio settled west of the Cross River. Without a centralized government, their social organization is comparable to that of the neighboring Igbo. Ancestor worship is under the authority of the highest-ranking members of the Ekpo. The latter use ...

Ex.Belgian collection of African art A semi-circular fragment of a bracelet or a torque that could have been used by certain groups in the Congo before the 1950s for the payment of the dowry. This type of metal object could also be a badge of power as among the Sundi.
In Africa, before the colonial period, payments were never made in coins. Transactions were made using cowries, pearls, cattle, kola nuts, but also metals, especially iron. These primitive currencies were used in commercial and social exchanges, especially for dowries, but could also be parade objects or throwing weapons. In Sierra Leone, goods were valued in relation to iron bars called barriferri. In 1556 in Djenné Jean-Léon l'Africain observed that the populations used iron to pay for "things of little value". ...

Ex-Belgian collection of African art.
African mask "Déanglé" wearing a thick headdress of carefully woven raffia. The masks were sculpted according to precise instructions following dreams in which the spirits would have manifested themselves. Dark matte patina. Height on base: 36 cm. Very minor abrasions.
The Dan masks, of varied workmanship, generally occur during very theatrical entertainment festivals where women play a leading 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 renowned men. Each of the masks bore a name linked to its function. Also used during circumcision rites, they appear in the company of the singing masks gle sö and the large masks go ge ...

Former Canadian collection of African art.
Decorated with their protective adornments, the "abiku", colored beads and metal jewelry, these "ere" doll-statues (statues), incarnations of twins in adult guise, were said to have been sculpted on the advice of the "babalawo".
Satin black patina.

In the language of the Yoruba people, ibeji means twin: ibi for born and eji for two. They embody the figure of a deceased twin. This ibedji is then treated as the missing child would have been. It also happened that a man had ibeji sculpted for his wife in order to induce pregnancy. Support of the soul of the twin, the ibeji influences the life of the family, becoming a source of benefits towards his parents, the latter continuing to address prayers to him and to devote cults ...

Ex-French collection of tribal art . Animating the traditions of the Hopi Indian peoples of Arizona, the Katsinam sculpted objects (sing. Kachina ) intervene during traditional dances accompanying the annual festivals in favor of rain. The traditional Kachinam dolls are, for the Pueblo Native American group (Hopi, Zuni, Tewa Village, Acoma Pueblo and Laguna Pueblo), educational tools offered to children at the end of ritual festivals. These statuettes, embodying a great diversity of spirits, represent the katchina dancers and the colors are associated with the cardinal points. The polychrome patina is matte and velvety, slight abrasions.

The African Punu masks wear elaborate headdresses made of braided shells that highlight the softness of the physiognomies.
Height on base: 42 cm. Abraded matte patina, erosions.
The white masks of Gabon, itengi, (pl. bitengi) were associated with the various secret societies of Gabon, including the Bwiti, Bwete, and the Mwiri ("to lead"), the latter being spread out over several levels of initiation, to which all Punu men belonged, and whose emblem was the caiman (hence, for some, the motif with saurian scales). This object, evoking a deceased young woman, was exhibited during the dance called Okuyi. These powerful secret societies, which also had a judicial function, included several dances, including the leopard dance, the Esomba, the Mukuyi or the Okuyi depending on the ...