African shield used by funerals - Congo. Hand carved & size are 92 cm high and 34 cm wide. This Ngombe shield is dated from the 20th century and comes with a certificate of authenticity. Young Ngombé men staged mock battles during the funeral rites of respected clan elders. These rites, which celebrated the warrior prowess of the deceased, later became a way to commemorate his courage as a hunter in service to the community, his generosity to his family, and an expression of the deep respect due to ancestors. The Ngombe are a people from the Democratic Republic of Congo. Most Ngombes live along the Zaire River, north of the settlements of Mbandaka and Basankusu, where they traditionally led a riverine life: fishing, farming on the banks of the river and trading goods up and down the Zaire River in northwestern Zaire.