African Arts Gallery

In the Kwilu-Kwango region, several groups, some from Angola, were subjected to the influence of the Kongo Kingdom. The sculpture of the Holos is thus particularly marked by that of its many neighbors, including the Yakas. The enthronement statuettes were used during rites of passage, during which young girls were sometimes carried or to honor chiefs. Dark patina, glossy, cracks of desiccation. Located in the Democratic Republic of Congo between the Yaka and the Tchokwe of Angola, the small Holo ethnic group migrated from the Angolan coast to settle near the banks of the Kwango River. Hunting and agriculture ensure their subsistence. Neighboring ethnic groups, such as the Suku and Yaka, have influenced their traditional sculptures. The Holo produced helmet masks and prestige objects ...

Ex-Monegasque African tribal art collection.
This zoomorphic mask appears at the end of the initiation ceremonies. It symbolizes the power and the spirit of revenge. Associated with the wild buffalo, it is also associated with healing rites and also intervenes during rituals related to hunting.
Dark brown oiled patina, abrasions revealing a light wood.
Located in Democratic Congo between the Yaka and Tchokwé of Angola, the small Holo ethnic group migrated from the Angolan coast to settle near the banks of the Kwango River. Hunting and agriculture ensure their subsistence. Neighboring ethnic groups, such as the Suku and Yaka, have influenced their traditional carvings. The Holo have indeed produced helmet masks and prestigious objects for the ruling elite. The Holo ...

Located in the Democratic Congo between the Yaka and the Tchokwé of Angola, the small Holo ethnic group migrated from the Angolan coast to settle near the banks of the Kwango River. Hunting and agriculture provide for their livelihood. Neighbouring ethnic groups, such as the Suku and Yaka, influenced their traditional sculptures. The Holos have produced hexagonal masks and prestige objects for the ruling elite. The Holos used sculptures, asexual anthropomorphic figures and bird effigies to guard against the influence of evil spirits, including the moon and the rainbow. These statues were placed near the houses as protection from lightning. In "Chokwe and their Bantu Neighbours" (p.110), the author states that these figures hamba named kaponya wa pwo nyi cikungulu symbolize fertility and ...

The Holo used statuettes to guard against the influence of evil spirits, including the moon and rainbow. These statues were placed near the houses as protection against lightning. Bird figures are also used to protect against ndoki, or wizards, who would activate evil spirits. In this case the owl embodies a nocturnal protective spirit. The figure named Kaponya wa Pwo nyi cikungulu is lined with disparate elements, wicker rods, feather fagot, textile. br>Situated in Democratic Congo between the Yaka and the Chukwe of Angola, the small Holo ethnic group migrated from the Angolan coast to settle near the banks of the Kwango River. Hunting and agriculture provide for their livelihoods. Neighbouring ethnic groups, such as the Suku and Yaka, influenced their traditional sculptures. The Holo ...

Ex-Collection Swiss African Art.
This zoomorphic mask appears at the end of the initiation ceremonies. It symbolizes the power and spirit of vengeance. It is also associated with healing rites and also intervenes in hunting-related rituals. The ears, in the same axis as the diamond eyes, are adorned with oxidized metallic loops. Lack at the end of a horn and under the muffle. Non-homogeneous satin brown patina. Located in the Democratic Congo between the Yaka and the Chukwe of Angola, the small Holo ethnic group migrated from the Angolan coast to settle near the banks of the Kwango River. Hunting and agriculture provide for their livelihoods. Neighbouring ethnic groups, such as the Suku, influenced their traditional sculptures. The Holo have indeed produced masks and prestigious ...

This mask is capped with a tiara consisting alternately of braided vegetable fibers, laces, necklaces of pink pearls arranged horizontally, rattan pad and animal skin. The almond-eyed face, incised, extends with a bifid beak. The surface of the wood, abraded, reveals an underlying light wood.
Total height with base: 35 cm. Located in the Democratic Congo between the Yaka and the Tchokwé of Angola, the small Holo ethnic group migrated from the Angolan coast to settle near the banks of the Kwango River. Hunting and agriculture provide for their livelihood. Neighbouring ethnic groups, such as the Suku and Yaka, influenced their traditional sculptures. The Holos have produced hexagonal masks and prestige objects for the ruling elite. The Holos used sculptures, asexual anthropomorphic ...

This female statuette, dressed in a simple textile loincloth, bears an animal motif carved in round-bump at the top of the head, visibly a mammal, like the masks used by the ethnic group. These figures, which are divided into antelope, bird, monkey, refer to tales or proverbs, and the behaviors of the dancer reflect that of the animal represented. Mate grey brown patina, with abraded areas.
br-Located in the Democratic Congo between the Yaka and the Chukwe of Angola, the small Holo ethnic group migrated from the Angolan coast to settle near the banks of the Kwango River. Hunting and agriculture provide for their livelihoods. Neighbouring ethnic groups, such as the Suku and Yaka, influenced their traditional sculptures. The Holo have indeed produced masks and prestigious objects for ...

The Holo used statuettes to guard against the influence of evil spirits, including the moon and rainbow. These statues were placed near the houses as protection against lightning. Bird figures are also used to protect against ndoki, or wizards, who would activate evil spirits.
In this case the owl embodies a nocturnal protective spirit. The figure Kaponya wa Pwo nyi cikungulu is lined with disparate elements, talismans in the form of ritually charged horn, barks, dried fruits, fagot of feathers. Pink and white ochre pigments were applied to the set. The end of a foot is gnawed.
Situated in The Democratic Congo between the Yaka and the Chukwe of Angola, the small Holo ethnic group migrated from the Angolan coast to settle near the banks of the Kwango River. Hunting and ...

Located in the Democratic Congo between the Yaka and the Tchokwé of Angola, the small Holo ethnic group migrated from the Angolan coast to settle near the banks of the Kwango River. Hunting and agriculture provide for their livelihood. Neighbouring ethnic groups, such as the Suku and Yaka, influenced their traditional sculptures. The Holos have produced hexagonal masks and prestige objects for the ruling elite. The Holos used sculptures to guard against the influence of evil spirits, including the moon and the rainbow. These statues were placed near the houses as protection from lightning.
Positioned frontally on legs reduced to half-flexed, the character is depicted with hands placed around a prominent abdomen. The face adopts the large eyeballs also visible on the masks of the ...

This sign was intended for the affliction cults nzaambi , also practiced by the Yaka , rituals that allowed to deal with a problem whose divinatory practices had been able to establish the source. While the Holos were likely inspired by Christian iconography, they honored spirits and not a single god. Often intended to promote hunting, fertility or good health, these sculptures had to be ritually beended by the interest of different substances. Brown skate. Scattered abrasions.
Located in democratic Congo between the Yaka and the Tchokwé of Angola, the small ethnic Holo migrated from the Angolan coast to settle near the banks of the Kwango. Hunting and agriculture provide for their livelihood. Neighbouring ethnic groups, such as the Suku, influenced their traditional sculptures. The ...