African Arts Gallery

Belgian collection of African art Very widespread in Central Africa, this ancient musical instrument or sanza Brown patina, abrasions and desiccation cracks. Ref. : https://www.musicologie.org/sites/s/sanza.html

Small drum with handles whose skin-tight resonance box is made of terracotta. The lacing is made of leather and wicker strips. Old piece, marks of use. Scattered throughout the Saharan region of Libya, Mali, Algeria and Niger, the Tuareg (sing.: Targui), or "Veiled Men", come from Berber pastors fleeing the Arabs in Libya in the 7th century. The Targui blacksmith also carves wood, this being a rare material, the carved objects which are often repaired to prolong their use are part of the dowry.

Rattle used during epha divination processes, common practice among the Urhobo. In Urhobo sanctuaries, sculptures for ritual use are present among a diversity of objects of all kinds. This is a tablet with a sculpted handle, the motifs of which represent the appearance of the group's masks. The board has many perforations, a half shell and is attached. Brown patina of use.
The Urhobos, living near the northwest of the Niger Delta River, form the major ethnic group in Delta State among the 36 states of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. They speak Urhobo, a language of the Niger-Congo group. Along with the Isoko, whose art is similar, they are collectively known as Sobo. Their large sculptures representing the spirits of nature, Edjo, or the founding ancestors of the clan, to ...

Belgian collection of African art
This rattle, in the form of a woven basket extended by a handle, is decorated with the face of an ancestor of the bwete, similar to those found on the reliquary baskets of the Bakota. Plant elements, such as seeds, are inserted into the instrument to produce a soft sound during rhythmic dances.
The Bakota, living in the eastern part of Gabon and sometimes in the Republic of Congo, have a flourishing artistic tradition. Their blacksmiths, in addition to carving wood, made agricultural tools and ritual weapons. Sculptures play a crucial role in serving as a link between the living and the dead, particularly in bwete rituals, which are reminiscent of those of the Fang.
The Mitsogho, established along the Ngoumé River in a forest ...

French African art collection.
Arms, jewellery, coins, metal objects are inseparable from traditional African art. Metallurgy is intimately associated with the founding myths of many African cultures, such as blacksmiths turned kings (Zaire), the anvil hammer being the symbol of power among the Luba. Cult accessories, the metal alloy gongs, some highly decorated, take on a wide variety of shapes. This double gong, in its simplicity, was a sacred instrument and the emblem of one of the many male societies of the peoples of Grassland, the Kwifoyn, whose headquarters adjoined the royal palace. The tinkling of wooden rods on hollow metal announced the beginning of ceremonies: communication with the supernatural world, ancestors, deities, could be established. Also prestigious objects, ...

The Kuba are renowned for the refinement of decorative art objects created for members of the high ranks of their society: cups and drinking horns, baskets, weapons, neck rests, chairs, masks and statues. These items were also offered to passing visitors. The Leus live in the west of the Kuba kingdom and share common cultural characteristics with the Bushoong of the Kuba country. Both groups adorn their prestige objects with similar motifs.
Their musical instruments, among which there are various carved drum forms, accompanied the masked dances or funeral ceremonies of the initiation societies. Decorated with zoomorphic figurative motifs evoking forest animals, this drum set on a flared base is also equipped with a handle adorned with a face extended with one hand. Held by small ...