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Male Hemba Statue 31″ – DR Congo – African Art

$162.50

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SKU: 1011945 Categories: ,
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This statue was carved in the style of the Hemba people of DRC. It features a nude standing male figure with a shiny patina and chiseled features. He measures 31 inches tall and weighs 9.5 pounds. There is some cracking, chipping and general wear and tear – please inspect photos.

Type of Object

Figure, statue

Country of Origin

DR Congo

Ethnicity

Hemba

Material

Wood, Pigment

Approximate Age

Unknown

Height (Inches)

31"

Width (Inches)

7"

Depth (Inches)

7”

Weight (Pounds)

9.5 lbs

Overall Condition

Some cracking, chipping and general wear and tear.

Tribe Information

About the Hemba People

“During the 18th century, the Hemba people, led by their chief Niembo, migrated from the south-west and settled on the right bank of the Lualaba River, in a region of fertile savannah. Today, they number 80,000 and are divided into large clans which, by definition, are families with a common ancestor. The hereditary chief of each clan is called the Fumu Mwalo and is the keeper of the ancestor figures. He renders justice and his status as clan head means that he has a privilege of receiving numerous gifts. The Hemba live mostly from farming manioc, sesame, yams and beans. Secret societies such as Bukazanzi for the men and Bukibilo for the women counterbalance the Fumu Mwalo’s power.

Two types of Hemba mask have been identified so far: the first is the rarest and displays a perfectly symmetrical human face with a small mouth and a linear nose set between two slanted eyes. The second type of mask imitates a monkey face with a large, pierced, crescent-shaped mouth and pointed nose. The function and meaning of these masks remain obscure.”

Source:
Baquart, Jean-Baptiste. The Tribal Arts of Africa. New York: Thames and Hudson Inc. 1998. Print.

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