Lega Kalimbangoma head
Sakimatwematwe: sir multi-face
African Lega art consists of a very large body of masks, statuettes, and objects of various uses. Most are part of the Bwami initiation. With the help of these objects, initiates of high rank such as kindi and yananio instilled in the candidates moral and social values through aphorisms related to each room, known only to initiates.
Among these objects, figures with multiple heads such as I propose here. They bear the name of sakimatwematwe literally meaning "sir multi-face". This is part of the kalimbangoma, that is to say the smallest objects, whether they are made of wood, bone or ivory.
The first aphorism of the sakimatwematwe figurine is the following: "Multiple head who saw an elephant on the other side of the river". The related moral is that the hunter must be cautious and not take reckless risks. Better to look around and turn back for help in such a colossal task as hunting an elephant. This also includes the inability of anyone to act alone.
This African Lega statuette consists of a flared foot at the bottom, surmounted by an aggregate of faces oriented in all directions. The remarkable aspect of this atypical room lies in the distribution of the faces on two superimposed floors.
01574
Data sheet
- Presumed dating
- Mid XXth century
- Size
- 16,5 cm
- Ethnic group
- Material(s)
- Wood
- Country
- Origin
- Tribal art collection Belgium
- Stand
- Included
- Condition
- Excellent
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Sakimatwematwe: sir multi-face
African Lega art consists of a very large body of masks, statuettes, and objects of various uses. Most are part of the Bwami initiation. With the help of these objects, initiates of high rank such as kindi and yananio instilled in the candidates moral and social values through aphorisms related to each room, known only to initiates.
Among these objects, figures with multiple heads such as I propose here. They bear the name of sakimatwematwe literally meaning "sir multi-face". This is part of the kalimbangoma, that is to say the smallest objects, whether they are made of wood, bone or ivory.
The first aphorism of the sakimatwematwe figurine is the following: "Multiple head who saw an elephant on the other side of the river". The related moral is that the hunter must be cautious and not take reckless risks. Better to look around and turn back for help in such a colossal task as hunting an elephant. This also includes the inability of anyone to act alone.
This African Lega statuette consists of a flared foot at the bottom, surmounted by an aggregate of faces oriented in all directions. The remarkable aspect of this atypical room lies in the distribution of the faces on two superimposed floors.