African Arts Gallery

Statues Pende (N° 17017)

A female figure sculpted in a naturalistic style, she has a half-closed-eyed face "zanze". Represented naked, arms spread from the bust and legs very slightly fetid on wide feet, she sports bracelets and hairs. These statues were generally part of a fertility cult. Red ochre mate patina. Cracks.
The seed live on the banks of the Kwilu, while the have settled on the banks of the Kasai river downstream of Tshikapa. The influences of the neighbouring ethnic groups, Mbla, Suku, Wongo, Leele, Kuba and Salempasu, were imprinted on their large tribal art sculpture. Within this diversity the masks Mbuya, realistic, produced every ten years, have a festive function, and embody different characters, including the chef, the soothsayer 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, initiation rituals and circumcision mukanda, induction of the chief. Governed by heads of family, the jogo, , priestly, Pende have sculptures designed to get in touch with the ancestors, to which sacrifices are offered. They are stored in a room or house adjoining the chief's room.
Source: Kerchache, " African art, 0022.  

 


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Origin	ex-collection belge
Ethny	Pende
Country	Rwanda
Material(s)	wood
Height	79
Width	24
Weight	3.65 Kg
Estimated dating	mid-xx°

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