Lega Iginga figure
Bwami initiation in African art
This African statuette was sculpted for the purpose of being used by one or more officers of bwami society during initiations intended to instill in Lega individuals the moral and social values they should demonstrate.
With this in mind, the initiates used many wooden, ivory and bone objects such as masks, statues, spoons, etc.
If a classification exists on the basis of materials and types of objects, its meaning is not really founded since it was carried out by Westerners without taking into account the fact that the Lega did not distribute objects according to their shape or form. their subject matter but according to the meaning they conveyed, known by themselves and transmitted from generation to generation of initiates.
Thus, unless a statue is accompanied by its ritual information, it is not really possible to determine its use and meaning a posteriori, once extracted from its context. One exception, however: when the statue has one or more characteristic features, it is then possible to identify its meaning and use, as well as the grade to which it could be attached.
The name iginga that we use corresponds to a generic term designating the statues. In this case, the perforations present on the body could correspond to a disease.
01593
Data sheet
- Presumed dating
- Circa 1960
- Size
- 25 cm
- Ethnic group
- Material(s)
- Wood
- Country
- Origin
- Tribal art collection Belgium
- Condition
- Excellent
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Bwami initiation in African art
This African statuette was sculpted for the purpose of being used by one or more officers of bwami society during initiations intended to instill in Lega individuals the moral and social values they should demonstrate.
With this in mind, the initiates used many wooden, ivory and bone objects such as masks, statues, spoons, etc.
If a classification exists on the basis of materials and types of objects, its meaning is not really founded since it was carried out by Westerners without taking into account the fact that the Lega did not distribute objects according to their shape or form. their subject matter but according to the meaning they conveyed, known by themselves and transmitted from generation to generation of initiates.
Thus, unless a statue is accompanied by its ritual information, it is not really possible to determine its use and meaning a posteriori, once extracted from its context. One exception, however: when the statue has one or more characteristic features, it is then possible to identify its meaning and use, as well as the grade to which it could be attached.
The name iginga that we use corresponds to a generic term designating the statues. In this case, the perforations present on the body could correspond to a disease.