Nazeze yanda figure - Zande - Congo - SOLD

Pretty Nazeze figure for the Yanda created by a traditional Zande carver in CongoAfrican carved wooden statue of a female with angular head and heart shaped face with buff pigment to the centre. The face with round eyes, wedge shaped nose and small mouth. The elongated body with large breasts supported by the hands, Down the middle of the body running to the pubis a series of notches for scarification marks. Statues such as this are known are power figures known as yanda that are named after protective spirits that guard the community. They are owned by the mani, a secret society open to both men and women. These statues are hidden away in special containers and are activated in rituals by anointing them in sacred plant fluids. The owner of the statue would discuss their problem with the image, all the while anointing it in sacred liquids. Once the problem was resolved, the owner would make offerings of beads, metal rings and money.Origin : private collection, BelgiumDating : 1950'sSize : 38 x 10 cmMaterial : wood