Vessel - Lega - Congo - Lega water pipe (bone) (No reserve price)

This Lega water pipe consists of a calabash decorated with a statuette.

Provenance: Personal collection of a couple of collectors - Mr. and Mrs. Sala (succession).

Its mouthpiece is wrapped with cowrie shells. The object is topped by an anthropomorphic bone motif silhouette.

African art of the Lega, Balega, or Warega, is distinguished by its initiation figurines, also made from ivory, some of which were kept in a basket intended for the highest ranks of the Bwami across different communities.

This type of Iginga (plural Maginga) tribal art object belonged to the high ranks of the 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. Following their exodus from Uganda in the 17th century, the Lega settled on the west bank of the Lualaba River in the DRC.

Also called Warega, these individuals live in autonomous villages surrounded by palisades, usually on hilltops. The role of the chief, kindi, is held by the eldest man of the clan, who must be the highest ranked.

As in other forest tribes, men hunt and clear land while women cultivate manioc. Social recognition and authority also had to be earned individually: the chief earned his selection by his heart (mutima), good character, intelligence, and irreproachable conduct.

Source: "Art of the Lega" by E. L. Cameron.