This statue was carved in the Bakongo style. It features a female figure in a kneeling position holding a baby. She has a necklace around her neck made of cowrie shells. The figure is 11 inches tall and weighs 1 pound.
| Type of Object | Figure, statue |
|---|---|
| Country of Origin | DR Congo |
| Ethnicity | Bakongo (Kongo) |
| Material | Wood, pigment, fiber, cowrie shells |
| Approximate Age | Unknown |
| Height | 11" |
| Width | 3" |
| Depth | 3" |
| Weight | 1lb |
| Overall Condition | Possible minor imperfections and wear & tear, including but not limited to scuffing, cracking and minimal chipping. Possible previous repairs. See photos or inquire for more details. |
| Tribe Information |
Tribe Information
About the Bakongo People
Bakongo people are a matriarchal society who values their independence. They are the largest tribe in the Democratic Republic of Congo and have considerable populations in neighboring countries as well. The total population of the tribe was last estimated to be around 18 million world wide.
With such a vast population of people, their belief system is almost as so. For the most part, the majority of Bakongo people believe in a creator god and deities. When the Portuguese inserted themselves in the area in the 15the century, they used that belief system to convince the Bakongo that Christianity was the same thing. Missionaries would twist Bakongo language to push Christianity among the people, they would take words such as “nkisi” to mean “holy” as they were teaching their religion. Today, a mixture of traditional religion and Christianity is practiced. Both churches and shrines have been maintained.
Read more about the Bakongo here.