Munganji doll - Pende - República Democrática do Congo (Sem preço de reserva)

Munganji doll (also spelled Minganji), dating from the 1950s, originating from the Pende (or Bapende) people of the southwestern Democratic Republic of the Congo.

These statuettes serve as miniatures or representations of the famous Minganji masked dancers of Pende culture. During actual ceremonies, the dancers wear costumes and masks identical to those depicted on this figure, covering their entire bodies to embody ancestral spirits (Mvumbi).

In Pende cosmology, the Minganji are associated with the mysteries of life, the transition from death to spiritual regeneration, and the protection of the community. They typically play a prominent role in youth initiation rituals, known as Mukanda.