Iginga figure of the Bwami - Lega - Congo - SOLD
Iginga type statue in the African art of Lega
This figurine with large feet and hands of the iginga category is represented the curved back, in a squatting position. This statuette was the property of a renowned tutor, initiated at the highest rank of the Bwami, lutumbo lwa kindi, from the Batoba community of the Babene, Pangi area in the south-west of the country Lega.It was used at the same time as many other sculptures in the rites of the musagi wa kindi and in those of the lutumbo lwa kindi. This cleverly carved and polished wooden sculpture is the equivalent of the ivory figurines associated with the highest kindi grade of the Bwami.
It is linked to the aphorism "the dear old man who has seen many sacred initiatory objects advanced folded". This refers to an older, physically weakened senior insider, who witnessed, on the one hand, many initiations - that is, his own and those to which he participated as a guest - and on the other hand rites of which he took charge and supervised as guardian and godfather of close and distant relatives, including his activities and obligations as a "grave guardian" of a high-ranking deceased parent.
This means the highest achievement for the top insider who has fulfilled all these functions. Displayed among other objects, the statuette aims to attract the attention of younger and recent initiates on the respect and attention they owe to a decrepit old kind. Which, holder of a higher "sacred power", represents some dead initiates and keeps their sacra, future emblems of new initiates of which he would be godfather. Once again, P. Vandenbergh amazes us by the variety of pieces he has collected during his life as a collector and his concern to collect a piece of each type of lega objects related to the Bwami.
Origin : private collection P. Vandenbergh, BelgiumDating : 1960'sSize : 28 x 15 cmMaterials : wood, kaolin
00325
Data sheet
- Presumed dating
- Mid XXth century
- Size
- Ethnic group
- Material(s)
- Wood
- Country
- Origin
- Tribal art collection Belgium
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Iginga type statue in the African art of Lega
This figurine with large feet and hands of the iginga category is represented the curved back, in a squatting position. This statuette was the property of a renowned tutor, initiated at the highest rank of the Bwami, lutumbo lwa kindi, from the Batoba community of the Babene, Pangi area in the south-west of the country Lega.It was used at the same time as many other sculptures in the rites of the musagi wa kindi and in those of the lutumbo lwa kindi. This cleverly carved and polished wooden sculpture is the equivalent of the ivory figurines associated with the highest kindi grade of the Bwami.
It is linked to the aphorism "the dear old man who has seen many sacred initiatory objects advanced folded". This refers to an older, physically weakened senior insider, who witnessed, on the one hand, many initiations - that is, his own and those to which he participated as a guest - and on the other hand rites of which he took charge and supervised as guardian and godfather of close and distant relatives, including his activities and obligations as a "grave guardian" of a high-ranking deceased parent.
This means the highest achievement for the top insider who has fulfilled all these functions. Displayed among other objects, the statuette aims to attract the attention of younger and recent initiates on the respect and attention they owe to a decrepit old kind. Which, holder of a higher "sacred power", represents some dead initiates and keeps their sacra, future emblems of new initiates of which he would be godfather. Once again, P. Vandenbergh amazes us by the variety of pieces he has collected during his life as a collector and his concern to collect a piece of each type of lega objects related to the Bwami.
Origin : private collection P. Vandenbergh, BelgiumDating : 1960'sSize : 28 x 15 cmMaterials : wood, kaolin