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Lega Bwami initiation statuette

Symbolizing a moral value or a dogma, or associated with a Lega proverb, this African statue, set on spread legs with arms raised, features a perforated torso.

The tribal art of the Lega, Balega, or Warega, is distinguished by its initiation statuettes, also carved in ivory, some of which were kept in a basket for the highest ranks of the Bwami across different communities.

This type of Iginga (Maginga in the plural) tribal art statuette belonged to the high-ranking members of Bwami, a secret society admitting men and their wives, and governing social life.

This organization was subdivided into initiation stages, the highest being the Kindi.

The statuettes were used progressively as the aspirants were initiated.

What is distinctive about the Lega, unlike other ethnic groups, is that they judge the quality of their ritual objects according to their effectiveness.