Tsogho Mbumba Bwiti reliquary figure
€330.00
Mbumba Bwiti reliquary statues such as this one are ritual artifacts associated with the Tsogho people of Gabon, and perhaps even the Sango or Sangu. These wooden figures, often embellished with copper or brass leaf, as seen in the example presented here, serve as guardians of ancestral relics, particularly bones, preserved in special baskets or boxes.
Their role is to facilitate communication with the ancestors and ensure their protection over the community.
Bwiti is a spiritual practice originating in Gabon, particularly among the Tsogho, Mahongwé, and Fang peoples.
It is an initiation rite centered on the ingestion of iboga, a plant with hallucinogenic properties, allowing initiates to access visions and deep knowledge of their existence and the spiritual world. Bwiti incorporates elements of animism, ancestor worship, and, in some cases, Christianity, reflecting a religious syncretism.
Bwiti ceremonies are led by a spiritual guide, the N'ganga, and include songs, dances, and the use of traditional instruments such as the Ngombi harp. These rituals, often nocturnal and lasting several days, play a central role in social cohesion and the transmission of cultural values within Gabonese communities.
Bwiti mbumba figures are therefore intrinsically linked to these practices, symbolizing the continued presence of ancestors and their benevolent influence on the living. They illustrate the richness of Gabonese ritual art and the importance placed on the link between the material and spiritual worlds.
A reliquary guardian in this style was published in "Tsogho, les Icônes du Bwiti," Paris, B. Dulon.
02566
Data sheet
- Presumed dating
- 2nd half XXth
- Size
- 44 cm with support
- Ethnic group
- Material(s)
- Wood, metal
- Country
- Origin
- Tribal art collection Belgium
- Stand
- Included
- Condition
- Excellent
You might also like
Mbumba Bwiti reliquary statues such as this one are ritual artifacts associated with the Tsogho people of Gabon, and perhaps even the Sango or Sangu. These wooden figures, often embellished with copper or brass leaf, as seen in the example presented here, serve as guardians of ancestral relics, particularly bones, preserved in special baskets or boxes.
Their role is to facilitate communication with the ancestors and ensure their protection over the community.
Bwiti is a spiritual practice originating in Gabon, particularly among the Tsogho, Mahongwé, and Fang peoples.
It is an initiation rite centered on the ingestion of iboga, a plant with hallucinogenic properties, allowing initiates to access visions and deep knowledge of their existence and the spiritual world. Bwiti incorporates elements of animism, ancestor worship, and, in some cases, Christianity, reflecting a religious syncretism.
Bwiti ceremonies are led by a spiritual guide, the N'ganga, and include songs, dances, and the use of traditional instruments such as the Ngombi harp. These rituals, often nocturnal and lasting several days, play a central role in social cohesion and the transmission of cultural values within Gabonese communities.
Bwiti mbumba figures are therefore intrinsically linked to these practices, symbolizing the continued presence of ancestors and their benevolent influence on the living. They illustrate the richness of Gabonese ritual art and the importance placed on the link between the material and spiritual worlds.
A reliquary guardian in this style was published in "Tsogho, les Icônes du Bwiti," Paris, B. Dulon.