Magnificent league. - balega - Legas - Congo (No reserve price)

Lega. This anthropomorphic figurine was used as part of the initiation of the Bwami society, to which the vast majority of Lega men and women belonged. It is a complex, rank-graded society attained progressively over life through initiatory rites. Bwami aimed to instill in the Lega the moral and social values necessary for life in society.

To this end, the masters and initiator members used a rich variety of objects such as masks (usually not worn on the face but held in the hand) of small to medium dimensions in wood, bone, or ivory, as well as surprising figurines such as this one, subdivided into several categories according to the aphorism or moral associated with it. The hidden meaning of the figure was known only to the master who taught it to the youths.