superb anthropomorphic statuette - league - DRC Congo (No reserve price)

Anthropomorphic Statuette Iginga - Lega - DRC Zaire
Among the Lega, ivory and wooden figurines occupy an important place in the so-called Bwami cult.

This society regulated all social and political life of the Lega.
Divided into 4 or 7 grades depending on the region, it required numerous insignia.
Climbing a rung required a series of initiations, gifts and payments settled by the lineage.
This meant that one had acquired a certain wisdom and an individual morality.

The great ceremonies organized for the attainment of the highest rank required the construction of entire villages to house the clan of the candidate and invited members of other clans who sometimes traveled from far away.

Circumcision was an indispensable step for entry into Bwami.
It was accompanied by the teaching of proverbs and the handling of objects endowed with moral and practical significance.
The ceremony of reaching the Kindi was marked by the unveiling of the 'basket of power' which contained the insignia, spoons and figurines.
According to page 570 of African Art" - Mazenod

Most of the carved statuettes express at first glance physical qualities desired by the Lega.
But they are also and above all initiatory objects expressing multi-level metaphors of understanding.

They can illustrate a particular proverb or allude to a specific event.
Thus a multi-faced statuette signifies the gift of double sight; it represents the elephant hunter who both sees him and looks behind him to call for reinforcements.
An arm raised depicts the lamentation caused by sorcery and the arbitration of quarrels.
A zigzag figure, a man who runs and then turns back. The curved objects, which the youth must take care of the old man who bears magical charges...
The buttons on the head, the hats of the great initiates...
All statues bear a name and tell a story.