African Arts Gallery

Collection ofAfrican artBelgian.
The cult of ancestors, the bwete (North Kota) was at the heart of the social and religious life of the Kota and presents many analogies with that of the Fang . In the exclusive presence of initiates, the major decisions of the clan were taken during ceremonies during which reliquaries were taken out and used. In order to reactivate its magical charge, the initiates rubbed the relic with sand. Related according to some authors to the naja snake, the concave pointed face, surmounted by a small tubular growth, offers cabochon eyes and a sharp nose. Juxtaposed copper strips alternate with areas of hammered patterns. Despite the slats lacking copper wire, this sculpture has certain elements relating to the Mahongwe reliquaries of the extreme north-east ...

Fang African art and its reliquary sculptures.
Fang type head, intended to overhang baskets with ancestral relics, and whose massive neck extends with a double disc.
Height on base: 47 cm.
Glossy black patina, abrasions, slight gaps and micro-cracks. Metal staples.
Among the Fang in Cameroon and Gabon, each family has a “Byeri”, or reliquary box, in which the bones of the ancestors are kept. These boxes were guarded by the oldest man in the village, the “esa”. They were topped with a statue or head which acted as guardian of the “byeri” boxes. These were kept in a dark corner of the hut, and were intended to divert evil influences towards someone else. They were also used during initiation ceremonies for young people linked to the "So" society. During ...

In African art, we find in several ethnic groups this tendency to create reliquary baskets, so it is not uncommon to find versions sometimes flared as in the Luba and Songye, or more vertical versions like this one.
In the basket are intertwined elements of various materials. Here, an anthropomorphic statuette with a simplistic face and raw patina shares the space with a piece of skull with small horns and other pieces of wood and rope.

The Losso practiced the cult of the ancestors, it was a good omen to honor them in order to attract their benevolence. Losso pieces are extremely rare.

Belgian African art collection
The baskets containing the relics of illustrious ancestors, generally surmounted by two reliquaries, were kept in the temples of the village. One of them embodied the founder of the lineage, and the second his descendants. Ancestor worship, the Bwete (Northern Kota) was at the heart of the social and religious life of the Kota and presents many analogies with that of the Fang. In the exclusive presence of initiates, the major decisions of the clan were taken during ceremonies during which the reliquaries were taken out and used. In order to reactivate the magic charge, the initiates rubbed the relic with sand. Among the Kota, these figures have reached an astonishing degree of stylization and abstraction: reduced to shoulders and "arms" surmounted by ...

This ritual African sculpture, plated with metal sheets according to the kota tradition, forms a stylized image of the ancestor, a coat of arms also for the clan, and is generally distinguished by the shape of the headdress, which varies depending on the regions.
The Kota inhabit the eastern part of Gabon, which is rich in iron ore, and some in the Republic of Congo. The blacksmith, in addition to wood carving, made tools for agricultural work as well as ritual weapons. The sculptures playing the role of "medium" between the living and the dead who watched over the descendants, were associated with the rites at the bwete , comparable to those of the Fang . They are sometimes bifaces, the mbulu-viti, symbolizing the masculine and feminine aspect at the same time. This type of ...

Reliquary sculpture assembling three faces whose pupils are encrusted with copper. Ritual removals were frequent from sculptures of this type. The top bears crusty residues of ritual anointings. Abraded patina of use, erosions, desiccation cracks.
Height on base: 30 cm.
Among the Fang of Cameroon and Gabon, each family has a "Byeri", or reliquary box, in which the bones of the ancestors are kept. These boxes were guarded by the oldest man in the village, the "esa". The reliquary boxes were surmounted by a statue or a head which acted as guardian of the "byeri" boxes. These were kept in a dark corner of the hut, and were intended to divert evil influences to someone else. They were also used during initiation ceremonies for young people linked to the "So" society. During the ...

Rare representation of a Tsogho ancestor in the form of a statue with articulated limbs. The back has a cavity intended for relics such as small bones. The face is like the traditional masks of the group. Matte patina, faintly colored highlights, drying cracks.
The Mitsogho ethnic group, Sogho, is established in a forest region on the right bank of the Ngoumé river, Ngounié, near the Kwele. Bwiti society, which has a system of reliquaries comparable to that of the Fang and Kota, formed the cohesion of the Mitsogho matrilineal clans. Their masks were displayed during funerals, and stored in the ebanza male initiation house. Like other ethnic groups in Gabon, they practice the rites of Bwiti which would have spread in this way among the coastal peoples. Their sculptural production is ...

The cult of the ancestors, among the Mbete, is accompanied by these sculpted figures whose back has a reliquary cavity. A stocky subject is wearing braids arranged in a quadruple crest, which accentuate the impressive character of his features. The barrel bust has a hollowed out space. Legs ready to leap suggest a ritual dance. Dark abraded patina. Desication erosions and cracks.

The Mbete form a tribe of Gabon, on the border of the Middle Congo, neighboring the Obamba, whose history has been marked by a long-term conflict against the Teke. They do not have a centralized political organization, practice ancestor worship and use statues instead of traditional reliquary boxes.

"Mbumba Bwiti", bust of an ancestor rising from a base-load composed of clay materials, small bones, textiles and plant fibres. Pink patina, abrasions.
The Mitsogho ethnic group, Sogho, is established in a forest region on the right bank of the Ngoumé River, Ngounié, near the Kwele. Bwiti society, which has a system of reliquaries comparable to that of the Fang and the Kota, formed the cohesion of the Mitsogho matrilineal clans. Their masks were exhibited at funerals, and stored in the ebanza male initiation house. Like the other ethnic groups of Gabon, they practice the rites of the Bwiti which would have spread in this way among the coastal peoples. Their sculptural production is varied, in the form of statues, masks, reliquary guardians, pillars, doors and panels, musical ...

Statues of lineage or clan leaders in the African art of the Mbede, Mbete, or Ambete.
The worship of the onkani ancestors, among the Mbete, is surrounded by African figures such as this sculpture whose gaping dorsal cavity conceals fragments of bone. The headdress depicts the braided hair gathered in shells. The bust, proportionally stretched, is framed by short arms tight against the body. The muscular legs seem to be about to dance.
Thick coating of white clay, red ocher highlights, desiccation cracks, chips.
The Mbete form a tribe of Gabon, on the border of the Middle Congo, close to the Obamba and the Pounou, whose history has been marked by a long-term conflict against the Teke. They do not have a centralized political organization, practice ancestor worship.

Effigy of a Kota ancestor known as mbulu-ngulu, offering an oval face haloed by a flat headdress extended with pendants. The whole is plated with metal sheets engraved in repoussé. The base which would represent the arms is only partly covered with metal.
This type of figure surmounted the baskets in which the mortuary relics of high-line ancestors were stored, playing the role of guardians named ngulu.
Foot erosions.
In the exclusive presence of initiates, the major decisions of the clan were taken during ceremonies during which the reliquaries were taken out and used by the banganga. In order to reactivate the magic charge, the initiates rubbed the relic with sand. Among the Kota, these figures have reached an astonishing degree of stylization and abstraction: reduced ...

African Tribal Art and Funeral Rites
This Fang head with metal pupils, offering a concave face lodged under a rounded forehead and a horizontal pout, was placed on the reliquary box constituting in a way its bust. Oiled golden brown patina, eroded wood.
Among the Fang of Cameroon and Gabon, each family has a "Byeri", or reliquary box, in which the bones of the ancestors are kept. These boxes were guarded by the oldest man in the village, the "esa". The reliquary boxes were surmounted by a statue or head which acted as guardian of the "byeri" boxes. These were kept in a dark corner of the hut, and were intended to divert evil influences to someone else. They were also used during initiation ceremonies for young people linked to the "So" society. The term Angokh means "full ...

Effigy of African ancestor Kota known as mbulu-ngulu, offering an oval face haloed by a flat headdress extended with pendants. The whole is plated with metal sheets engraved in repoussé. The base which would represent the arms is only partly covered with metal.
This type of figure topped the baskets in which the mortuary relics of high-line ancestors were stored, playing the role of guardians named ngulu.
Abrasions, small accidents.
In the exclusive presence of initiates, the major decisions of the clan were taken during ceremonies during which reliquaries were taken out and used by the banganga. In order to reactivate the magic charge, the initiates rubbed the relic with sand. Among the Kota, these figures have reached an astounding degree of stylization and abstraction: ...

br>Belonging to a Fang lineage, this receptacle with high cylindrical bark walls is now devoid of ancestor relics. The carefully detailed male figure symbolizes the latter. A second, noticeably different subject adorns the outer wall. Patina of use. Among the Fang of Cameroon and those of Gabon, each family has a "Byeri", or reliquary box, in which the bones of the ancestors are kept. These boxes were guarded by the oldest man in the village, the "esa". The reliquary boxes were surmounted by a statue or a head which acted as guardian of the "byeri" boxes. These, intended to deflect evil influences, were kept in the hut. They were also used during initiation ceremonies for young people linked to the "So" society. During festivals, the statues could be separated from their boxes and ...

Sculptural african art of Kota.
This guardian effigy reliquary, evoking the ancestors, adopts the traditional hairstyle: a top cap with flat hulls ending in two duvets. The face has a high convex forehead, an eyebrow arch in a heart shape with palpebral fissures stretched half-closed. The whole is clad with a network of two-colored metal strips, skilfully arranged, a fine nailing fixed to the frame of wood.
This type of sculpture played the role of "medium" between the living and the dead and continued to watch over the descendants. They are sometimes bifaces, mbulu-viti, symbolizing the masculine and feminine aspect at the same time. This type of room was indeed used during the preservation of mortuary remains of ancestors of high lineage in baskets surmounted by very ...

This sculpture features a concave face, topped with ample side panels. It is veneered with sheets of gilded metal that discreet studding adheres to the wooden core. The whole is streaked with geometric patterns. The Kota inhabit the eastern part of Gabon, which is rich in iron ore, and some in the Republic of Congo. The blacksmith, in addition to wood carving, made tools for agricultural work as well as ritual weapons. The sculptures, playing the role of "medium" between the living and the dead, who watched over the descendants, were associated with the rites of the bwete, comparable to those of the Fang, and surmounted the reliquary baskets.

Statues of ancestors in the African art of Mbede, Mbete, or Ambete.
Ancestor worship among the Mbete is accompanied by sculpted figures frequently playing the role of reliquary. This statuette offers for this purpose a dorsal cavity encrusted with residual pink ocher pigments. The barrel-shaped morphology and the flat, stylized face, topped with a crest, are specific features of the ambete sculpture. This copy also wears braided raffia accessories, mats, choker and small loincloth.

Grainy patina, desiccation cracks.
The Mbete form a tribe of Gabon, on the border of the Middle Congo, close to the Obamba and the Pounou, whose history has been marked by a long-term conflict against the Teke. They do not have a centralized political organization, practice ancestor ...

French African art collection.
This African sculpture "mbulu-ngulu", plated with metal according to the kota tradition, forms a stylized image of the ancestor, a coat of arms also for the clan, and is generally distinguished by the shape of the headdress , variable depending on the region.
The Kota inhabit the eastern part of Gabon, which is rich in iron ore, and some in the Republic of Congo. The blacksmith, in addition to wood carving, made tools for agricultural work as well as ritual weapons. The sculptures playing the role of "medium" between the living and the dead who watched over the descendants, were associated with the rites at the bwete , comparable to those of the Fang . They surmounted the baskets containing the mortuary remains of the ancestors of high ...

African sculpture ritual, plated with metal sheets according to the kota tradition, forming a stylized image of the ancestor, a coat of arms also for the clan, and which is generally distinguished by the shape of the headdress, variable depending on the regions. This copy presents a face haloed with metallic spheres as a reminder of the globular pupils. The asymmetry of the object also gives it a somewhat naive character.
The Kota inhabit the eastern part of Gabon, which is rich in iron ore, and some in the Republic of Congo. The blacksmith, in addition to wood carving, made tools for agricultural work as well as ritual weapons. The sculptures playing the role of "medium" between the living and the dead who watched over the descendants, were associated with the rites at the ...

Obamba sculptural expression in African art

Kota Obamba type ancestor effigy known as mbulu-ngulu. Under a prominent forehead, the face offers two eye-cabochons pierced with nails forming the pupils. Sheets of metal, whose hammered patterns emphasize the contours, cover the sculpture.
The Mahongwe, Obamba, Shamayé and Sango form with the Kota a group with similar rites and society. It is in the eastern part of Gabon that they live among the forests. Some crossed the Congo border after going up the sources of the Ogooué. This type of figure topped the baskets in which the mortuary relics of high-line ancestors were stored, playing the role of guardians called ngulu. In the exclusive presence of initiates, the major decisions of the clan were taken during ceremonies during ...

The worship of ancestors, the bwete (Northern Kota) was at the heart of the social and religious life of the Kota and presents many analogies with that of the Fang . In the exclusive presence of initiates, the major decisions of the clan were taken during ceremonies during which the reliquaries were taken out and used. In order to reactivate the magic charge, the initiates rubbed the relic with sand. The wide concave pointed face, surmounted by a small tubular protrusion, offers cabochon eyes and a blade for the nose. Copper wires applied with regularity alternate with areas in relief engraved in repoussé, evoking for some the snake naja. This sculpture is characteristic of the Mahongwe of the extreme northeast of Gabon, on the border with Congo. The baskets containing the relics of ...