Mbole Figure

Kip McKesson African Art

Fine carved wooden figure Mbole culture of DRC. Early 20th Century.  

a good example of a 'hanging figure', carved for a high ranking member of the Lilwa association of the Mbole. As Biebuyck (in 
Tervuren 1995:382) states the Lilwa has a number of ritual, structural and organizational features in common with the Bwami association of the Lega.
However, the art produced for the Lilwa is much rarer.  The figurines are shown and interpreted only in rites of passage and in crisis situations. 'The Lilwa perform ritual, educational, journal, social, political and
economic functions forming a sophisticated moral philosophy underlying the rites.' The 'hanging' statues of the Mbole, ofika, may represent persons who
were hanged for transgressing against the laws of Lilwa and the public order.

$2,200.00

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