Crucifix Kiditu - Bakongo - DR Congo

Crucifix Kiditu – Bakongo

Democratic Republic of the Congo
Ancient ritual object, iconic and highly sought after by major collectors of African art

An ancient crucifix known as Kiditu, stemming from the Bakongo tradition, bearing witness to the appropriation and local reinterpretation of Christian iconography from the late 19th century onward. These crucifixes, deeply rooted in the history of the Kingdom of Kongo, are today major objects of ancient African art, at the crossroads of the spiritual, the political, and the ritual.

Christ is depicted with arms outstretched, in a frontal and hieratic posture, characteristic of Bakongo crucifixes. The sculptural treatment prioritizes legibility and symbolic strength over naturalism. The face, expressive and focused, features stylized but powerful traits, reinforcing the sacred dimension of the whole. The loincloth is carefully sculpted, and the overall structure remains perfectly balanced.

The presence of a secondary figure, carved at the top of the cross, reinforces the uniqueness of this specimen. This element, frequently observed on ancient Kiditu, is interpreted as a symbolic reference to ancestors, to transmission or spiritual continuity, fundamental elements in Bakongo thought. The cross thus becomes a true object of mediation between the world of the living and the world of spirits.

The aged patina, deep and even, bears witness to prolonged use and genuine antiquity. The wear marks, coherent and unaltered, contribute fully to the authenticity and presence of the object. The condition is remarkable for this type of sculpture, with no excessive restoration or visible modern intervention.

The Kiditu crucifixes are today particularly prized by discerning collectors and institutions, due to their rarity, historical significance, and strong symbolic charge. This specimen is a premier collectible object, accurately illustrating the meeting between Bakongo traditions and Christian influence, in a form deeply African.

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