African Arts Gallery

This African Lega mask indicated the stage that its holder had reached within the Bwami, a learning society composed of different grades. Of great simplicity, he expresses a certain sweetness thanks to his heart-shaped face and his fine features. Black, matte and abraded patina of use.
Within the Léga, the Bwami society, open to men and women, organized social and political life. There were up to seven levels of initiation, each associated with emblems. Following their exodus from Uganda during the 17th century, the Lega settled on the west bank of the Lualaba River in the DRC. Social recognition and authority also had to be earned individually: the chief owed his selection to his heart (mutima), good character, intelligence, and impeccable behavior. During ritual ceremonies, Idumu ...

Les sculptures africaines Lega dans l' art africain. Ce masque qui n'était pas destiné à être porté, mais manipulé au cours des rituels, affiche les caractéristiques classiques lega. Ce masque africain Lega indiquait le stade que son détenteur avait atteint au sein du Bwami, société d'apprentissage composée de différents grades,et que rejoignaient les épouses dont le conjoint avait accédé au troisième niveau, celui du ngandu .
Au sein des Léga, la société du Bwami ouverte aux hommes et aux femmes,organisait la vie sociale et politique. Il existait jusqu'à sept niveaux d'initiation, chacun associé à des emblèmes. Suite à La reconnaissance sociale et l'autorité devaient en outre être gagnées individuellement : le chef devait sa sélection à son ...

Large mask with a heart-shaped face, where almond-shaped eyelids frame a pointed nose. The mouth is encrusted with metal teeth. Velvety patina of use, blackish residue.
Height on base: 42 cm.
This sculpted work indicated the stage that its holder had reached within the Bwami, a learning society made up of different grades, and which was joined by the wives whose spouse had reached the third level, that of the ngandu. Within the Lega, on the west bank of the Lualaba River, in the DRC, the Bwami society, open to men and women, organized social and political life. There were up to seven levels of initiation, each associated with emblems. Social recognition and authority had to be earned individually: the chief owed his selection to his heart (mutima), good character, ...

This statuette, referring to a proverb known only to the initiated, is presented frontally, in a posture of self-confidence represented by the arched arms, hands on the hips and legs firmly anchored. Oiled patina, two-tone, abraded.
The tribal art of the Lega, Balega, or even Warega, is distinguished by its initiation statuettes, also made in ivory, some of which were kept in a basket for the highest ranking members of the Bwami of various communities. This type of Iginga (Maginga in the plural) tribal art statuette, was the property of the top brass of the Bwami , a secret society admitting men and their wives , and governing social life . This organization was subdivided into initiatory stages, the highest being the Kindi. The statuettes were used as the aspirants ...

In African art, this male statuette of the Lega, whose limbs have no extremities, and whose triangular face with a raised chin, was intended for an insider of the Bwami. It was part of a set used throughout the initiations. The teacher guided the aspiring lega to a place where African lega masks and statuettes were exhibited, and it was through careful observation that the future initiate had to guess the more or less complex meaning of these objects, real metaphors largely referring to proverbs and sayings. Glossy black patina, erosions and desication cracks.
Within the Lega, the Bwami society open to men and women, organized social and political life. There were up to seven levels of initiation, each associated with emblems. Following their exodus from Uganda during the 17th ...

Ex-collection of Belgian African tribal art.
Within the Lea, the society of the Bwami open to men and women, organized social and political life. There were up to seven levels of initiation, each associated with emblems. Following their exodus from Uganda in the 17th century, the Lega settled on the west bank of the Lualaba River in the DRC. Also known as Warega, these individuals live in self-contained villages surrounded by palisades, usually on the top of hills. The role of the leader, kindi, is held by the oldest man of the clan, who must be the highest ranking. As in other forest tribes, men hunt and clear while women grow cassava. Social recognition and authority also had to be won individually: the chief owed his selection to his heart (mutima), good character, intelligence, ...

Large, concave, blind orbits distinguish this African Lega mask, the latter supposedly determining the stage of Bwami to which its holder has reached. Contrary to most masked traditions in African art, Lega women can also handle and wear the masks, but the man remains the mask holder. According to Biebuyck, the blind mask is linked to a proverb relating to the vision of the heart, preferable to that of the visible. According to S.Diakonoff on the other hand, it was a threat for who would reveal the secret of the initiates of the Bwami. Cracks and lack.
Within the Lega, the Bwami society, open to men and women, organized social and political life. There were up to seven levels of initiation, each associated with emblems. Following their exodus from Uganda in the ...

Sculpture relating to a proverb only known to initiates, this human figure has an erect arm and a stump. This attitude generally symbolizes the appeasement of a quarrel through the arbitration of an individual.
Clear abraded patina.
Desiccation cracks.
The tribal art of the Lega , Balega, or even Warega, is distinguished by its initiation statuettes, some of which were kept in a basket intended for the highest ranking officers of the Bwami from different communities. This type of Iginga tribal art statuette. Maginga in the plural), was the property of the high-ranking officers of Bwami, a secret society admitting men and their wives, and governing social life. This organization was subdivided into initiatory stages, the highest being the Kindi. The statues were ...

This African mask Lega indicated the stage that its holder had reached within the Bwami, a learning society composed of different grades. Light patina, grainy kaolin residue. Desication cracks, minimal erosions. Height on base: 40cm. Within the Léga, the Bwami society, open to men and women, organized social and political life. There were up to seven levels of initiation, each associated with emblems. Social recognition and authority also had to be earned individually: the chief owed his selection to his heart (mutima), good character, intelligence, and impeccable behavior. During ritual ceremonies, Idumu masks were presented to initiates placed on a barrier and surrounded by masks of smaller format. The passage of a rank indicated the acquisition of a certain individual wisdom and ...

Among the many others used during the initiations, this sculpture African symbolizing clairvoyance, belonged to an initiate of the Bwami. The teacher guided the aspirant to a place where masks and statuettes were exhibited, and it was through careful observation that the future initiate had to guess the more or less complex meaning of the metaphors evoked by the sculptures, the latter largely referring to proverbs and sayings. Those who were not allowed to see the object, in order to be protected from it, had to undergo costly ceremonies, and sometimes even join the lower rank of the Bwami, the kongabulumbu, at great fees for families. Each of these initiations took place over seven days and included at least seven performances. Items "won" individually were then kept in a woven bag worn ...

This type of headdress is worn by members of the highest ranks of the bwami secret society, governing the lega social structure, open to circumcised adults and their wives and who instruct their adherents in terms of moral perfection. These objects are part of the masengo, meaning that they are sacred and can therefore only be worn by initiates. The owner cannot part with it during his lifetime. Bwami has different degrees, with yananio and kindi being the highest. The materials used vary, it can be buttons of clothes, cowries, pearls or cocoa beans. On a carefully braided natural fiber cap, this headgear is entirely covered with manufactured buttons (Mukuba). This old skullcap is originally surmounted by elephant hair in reference, under an imperturbable appearance, to the destructive ...

Symbol of animal qualities, this statuette, forming the generic figure of a quadruped (mugugundu) from the Lega environment, belonged to a high-ranking Bwami. Kaolin patina. Eclats.br /-Following their exodus from Uganda during the 17th century, the Lega settled on the west bank of the Lualaba River in the DRC. Also known as Warega, these individuals live in self-contained villages surrounded by palisades, usually on the top of hills. The role of the chief, kindi , is held by the oldest man of the clan, who must be the highest ranked. As in other forest tribes, men hunt and clear while women grow cassava. The Bwami, a secret society admitting men and their wives, governed social life. This organization was subdivided into initiation stages, the highest being the Kindi . Bwami has varying ...

Eager to appropriate the qualities of certain animals whose mores they knew remarkably, the initiates of the Lega often adopted the names of different vertebrates. These two terracotta statuettes, forming generic figures of quadruped (mugugundu) from the Lega environment, belonged to a high-ranking Bwami. The exhaust of the tail of one of them is missing.
Following their exodus from Uganda in the 17th century, the Lega settled on the west bank of the Lualaba River in the DRC. Also known as Warega, these individuals live in self-contained villages surrounded by palisades, usually on the top of hills. The role of the chief, kindi , is held by the oldest man of the clan, who must be the highest ranked. As in other forest tribes, men hunt and clear while women grow cassava. The Bwami, ...

Associated with animal qualities, this initiation figure, zoomorphic, represents a quadruped (mugugugundu) from the Lega environment. The statuette belonged to a high ranking member of the Bwami.
Dark brown satin patina. Following their exodus from Uganda during the 17th century, the Lega settled on the west bank of the Lualaba River in the DRC. Also called Warega, these individuals live in self-contained villages surrounded by palisades, usually on hilltops. The role of chief, kindi , is held by the oldest man in the clan, who must be the highest ranking. As in other forest tribes, the men hunt and clear land while the women cultivate cassava. The Bwami , a secret society admitting men and their wives , governed social life . This organization was subdivided into ...

Ex-collection African art French
In a face that forms a heart, the rectilinear and protruding nasal bridge separates two almond-shaped eyes. A hollowed-out rectangle forming the mouth is placed in the triangle of the chin. The whole is underlined with linear, oblique scarifications on the cheeks, and whitened with kaolin, contrasting with the brown patina of the skull.

This mask is used during the initiation rites of the Bwami society. Within the Lega, the Bwami society open to men and women, organized social and political life. There were up to seven levels of initiation, each associated with emblems. Following their exodus from Uganda during the 17th century, the Lega settled on the west bank of the Lualaba River in the DRC. During ritual ceremonies, Idumu masks ...

This African Lega mask, offering the classic characteristics, indicated the stage that its holder had reached within the Bwami, a learning society composed of different grades, and which joined the wives whose spouse had reached the third level, that of ngandu. Height on base: 44 cm
Within the Léga, the Bwami society, open to men and women, organized social and political life. There were up to seven levels of initiation, each associated with emblems. Following their exodus from Uganda during the 17th century, the Lega settled on the west bank of the Lualaba River in the DRC. Also called Warega, these individuals live in self-contained villages surrounded by palisades, usually on top of hills. The role of chief, kindi, is held by the oldest man in the clan, who must be the ...