African Arts Gallery

Consecrated by the nganga, endowed with a magic charge (bilongo) composed of disparate elements in a receptacle closed off by a mirror, this statuette brings together the distinctive elements of the nkisi sculptures. The Vili produced a variety of sculptures for individual use nkisi, to which multiple virtues were attributed. Dabs a face with naturalistic features, the glazed eyes, circled with a resin, symbolize clairvoyance. Eroded base. Satin black patina.
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 . 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 part, they ...

Devoid of the horn that rose from its skull, this anthropomorphic sculpture offers the peculiarity of a cylindrical bust, without arms, extended by a ringed neck bearing a massive head to the features of the large kifwebe mask of Songye. The latter has projection strokes. At the top remain resinous drippings mixed with ritual kaolin. A recurrence: oversized feet protruding from the circular base. Semi-mate patina, velvety. Abrasions, erosions and cracks.
These protective fetishes for homes are among the most popular in Africa. Nkisi plays the role of mediator between gods and men. Large specimens are the collective property of an entire village, while smaller figures belong to an individual or family. In the 16th century, the Songyes migrated from the Shaba region to settle on the ...

This type of tribal statue providing protection against enemies was made according to the instructions of the Nganga ngoombu and the sponsor of the object. This powerful tribal art object was then activated using rituals and incantatory formulas. Satin patina. Slight lack (foot).
Hierarchical and authoritarian, made up of formidable warriors, Yaka society was governed by lineage leaders with the right to life and death over their subjects. Hunting and the prestige that results from it are nowadays an opportunity for the Yaka to invoke the ancestors and to resort to rituals using charms linked to the "khosi" institution. The youth initiation society is the n-khanda, which is found among the eastern Kongo (Chokwe, Luba, etc.), and which uses various charms and masks for the purpose ...

Old Lula fetish statuette offering some aspects of the traditional sculpture of its close neighbors: Nkanu, Holo, Zombo and Yanzi. These sculptures were intended to protect individuals or the clan, but could also aim to bring good luck, particularly when hunting, or to increase fertility.
Erosions and cracks, satin patina of ochre tint.
This ethnic group close to the Yaka is settled along the Nséki River in the southwest of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Lula live in small autonomous villages, hunting and fishing.
We notice on their sculptures scarifications close to those of the Téké while the headdresses and the general morphology of the objects are close to the art of the Yaka.

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 ...

African animal figure Nkisi (pl. mankishi ) of "koso" type on which a cavity has been made for a magic charge. For the Kongo, dogs have four eyes and the ability to see beyond the world of the living, in order to detect malicious individuals. The dog, renowned for its knowledge of the supernatural world, its flair and its vision, also had a role of mediator between the living and the dead.
Matte brown patina. 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 result of cooperation between the nganga, the sculptor and the client, this African statuette songye was loaded with bishimba elements and accessories intended to reinforce its action. Brown patina, cracks and losses.
The fetish Songye, protective sculpture Nkisi, nkishi (pl. mankishi), plays the role of mediator between gods and men. The large specimens are the collective property of an entire village, the smaller figures belong to an individual or a family. In the 16th century, the Songyes migrated from the Shaba region to settle in Kasai, Katanga and South Kivu. Their history is inseparable from that of the Luba, to whom they are related through common ancestors.

This biteke fetish, devoid of arms, is coated with a clay agglomerate imprisoning three similar figures of reduced size. While sorcerers teke used a variety of sculptures dedicated to healing or protection, women also had them for the purpose of promoting their fertility or protecting their offspring. A native restoration was carried out on one of the feet, still covered with rubber.
Patine mate, black and ochre.
Andeblis between the Republic of Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Gabon, the Teké were organized into chiefdoms whose leader was often chosen from among the blacksmiths. The head of the family, mfumu , had the right to life or death over his family whose importance determined his prestige. The clan leader, gantsié , retained the great protective fetish ...

Ex. French collection of African art
Tribal fetish statue with a receptacle for a magical charge and a basket made of wickerwork carried on its back. The gaze refers to extrasensory abilities. br /> Minor cracks, erosions.
Among the Kongo , the nganga activated rituals using a nkondi (pl. nkissi) to invoke a spiritual force. The term nkisi was later used to designate concepts such as "sacred" or "divine". The most influential category of "minkisi kongo" included instruments intended to help regional chiefs enforce the law. A metal object was nailed to a wooden figure as soon as a decision was made, each nail evoking a specific case: disputes, divorces, conflicts between communities... The nkondi thus aimed to guarantee the application of the agreement to resolve the ...

Swiss African art collection.
African statuette Nkisi, nkishi (pl. mankishi) of the Songye whose face reproduces the kifwebe mask. The arms, whose hands surround the protruding abdomen, provide space to carefully grasp the sculpture using metal hooks, as dictated by custom.
Satin patina. Abrasions.
These protective fetishes for homes are among the most popular in Africa. The Nkisi plays the role of mediator between god and men, responsible for protecting against various evils. The large specimens are the collective property of an entire village, and the smaller figures belong to an individual or a family. In the 16th century, the Songyes migrated from the Shaba region to settle on the left bank of the Lualaba. Their society is organized in a patriarchal way. ...

Sculpted according to the indications of the diviner after consultation, embodying a type of "ideal spouse", this female figure offers most of the criteria which distinguish traditional Baoulé sculpture relating to "spouses of the beyond" (African Art Western Eyes, Baule ", Vogel, p.253 to 257).
Chip, small abrasions.
Two types of statues are produced by the Baoulé in the ritual context: The Waka-Sona statues, “being of wood” in Baoulé, evoke an assié oussou, being of the earth. They are part of a type of statue intended to be used as a medium tool by the komien diviners, the latter being selected by the asye usu spirits in order to communicate revelations from the beyond. The second type of statues are the spouses of the afterlife, male, the Blolo bian or female, the ...

Ritual horn loaded with fetish materials, in order to promote hunting, cure diseases, facilitate childbirth, etc. The sculpted subject, associated with the ancestors, indicates that the secrets of royalty, bizila belong to women thanks to their role as political and spiritual intermediaries. The hairstyle was composed of braids and copper wires, the look is encrusted with metal. Dark satin patina.
The Lubas (Baluba in Tchiluba) are a people of Central Africa. Their cradle is Katanga, more precisely the region of the Lubu River, thus the name (Baluba "the Lubas"). They were born from a secession of the Songhoy ethnic group, under the leadership of Ilunga Kalala who killed the old king Kongolo venerated since in the form of a python. In the 16th century they created a state, ...

Ex-French collection of African art African fetish depicting a gorilla. The head is composed of an authentic animal skull, which extends at the top with a hollowed-out bone for a magical charge.
This animal statue has a locally abraded dark gray patina and clay deposits.
Losses and cracks from desiccation.
The Boulou, an ethnic group of the Fang group, live in Cameroon, on the border of Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and Congo, on a vast plateau in the equatorial forest near the Bakwele whose customs and traditions are comparable. Like the Fang of South Cameroon with their white masks of justice, the Boulou have also used the Ngil ritual to counter witchcraft and poisoning. Future initiates, following their integration into the secret society, identify with the Ngi, a ...

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.

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 ...

Former Belgian collection of African art Teke fetish including the chief's regalia sculptures. The bust draped in a textile houses the mystical charge called "Bonga". Established between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Gabon, the Teke were organized into chiefdoms whose chief was often chosen from among the blacksmiths. The head of the family, mfumu, had the power of life or death over his family, the importance of which determined its prestige. The chief of the clan, ngantsié, kept the large protective fetish tar mantsié which supervised all the ceremonies. It was the healer and diviner who "charged" the individual statuettes or nkumi with magical elements, for a fee. According to the Teke, wisdom was absorbed and stored in the abdomen. It was also according to the diviner's ...

Belgian collection of African art
African statuette Nkisi , nkishi (pl. mankishi ) of the Songye with a hallucinated look. The arms free up a space to slide metal hooks as was customary. Matte red ochre patina. Resin residue at the top.
The Nkisi plays the role of mediator between god and men, responsible for protecting against various evils. Large examples are the collective property of an entire village, and smaller figures belong to an individual or a family. 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 allowed them ...

Belgian collection of African art .
African statuette Nkisi , nkishi (pl. mankishi ) dedicated to family use. The unusual headdress consists of a horn that a resin encrusted with pearls holds at the top. The arms free up a space to slide metal hooks as was customary. Shiny brown patina, erosions and cracks.
The Nkisi plays the role of mediator between god and men, responsible for protecting against various evils. Large examples are the collective property of an entire village, and smaller figures belong to an individual or a family. In the 16th century, the Songyes 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 ...

French collection of African art This African object associated with fertility symbolizes the marriage vows and the child that will be born of this union. It is the fiancé who makes it and decorates it with multiple trinkets, in this case cords, various beads, dried fruits, copper miniatures, before offering it to the young woman. The Kirdi, or "pagans", as the Islamized peoples have named them, are established in the far north of Cameroon, on the border with Nigeria. They include the Matakam, Kapsiki, Margui, Mofou, Massa, Toupouri, Fali, Namchi, Bata, Do ayo... They live from agriculture, fishing and livestock breeding.
Among the Fali, ancestor worship is illustrated by the great importance given to the skulls of the deceased, because thought and knowledge resided there.

African Art Ewe.
Symbolizing the missing twins, this pair of African statuettes have a patina lightened by kaolin anointing. The hairstyle of one of them seems to have been refreshed by its owner. They have their original altar. Desiccation cracks, missing parts.

The Ewe, often confused with the Minas, are the largest ethnic group in Togo. They are also found as minorities in Ghana, Benin, Ivory Coast and Nigeria. Although little historical information is available about them, it seems that their settlement in their current location is the result of invasions and conflicts that broke out during the 17th century. The Ewe consider the birth of twins called Venavi (or Venovi) to be a happy omen. They must be treated equally and fairly. For example, both will be fed and ...

Belgian collection of African art Among the many carved objects related to hunting and magic including charms for high-ranking officers belonging to the Lombe society, this old small fetish is polished by use. Beautiful dark orange-brown patina, cracks and abrasions.
The Ngbaka form a homogeneous people from the northwest of the DRC, south of Ubangui. The Ngandi live in the east and the Ngombe in the south. The initiation of young people, "gaza" or "ganza" (which gives strength) among the Ngbaka and the Ngbandi, presents many similarities, through endurance tests, songs and dances. The rites required the presence of ancestor sculptures. It was after a period of separation from the village that circumcision and excision were practiced. The closing ceremony was accompanied by ...