African sculpture biteke (carved figure) embodying a clan ancestor. The hollowed bust houses the magic charge called " Bonga " or "bilongo", which was generally fixed or concealed by a textile. This symbolism refers to the Téké belief that the abdomen conceals wisdom. These fetishes were placed on the altars of the chiefs. Matte patina, colored highlights. erosions. Established between the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Republic of Congo and Gabon, the Téké were organized into chiefdoms whose chief was often chosen from among the blacksmiths. 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 diviner who "loaded" with magic elements, against payment, the individual statuettes. The statuettes, called mutinu bmmba, matomba or butti, endowed with an apotropaic function, ensured, depending on the case, the smooth running of the childbirth. Bilongo were sometimes extracted from objects, leaving them bloodless, and incorporated into new carvings to be sold to other families. Ref. : "Congo River" F. Neyt; "Black African Tribal Art" ed. Assouline
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