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Songye Fetish Figure on Base 25″ – DRC – African Art

$147.50

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SKU: 1004989 Categories: ,
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This Songye statue was carved in the fetish style. The statue portrays a male figure with an animal horn on top of his head and a fabric garment covering his lower half. The statue measures 23 inches tall, 25 inches including the base, and weighs 6 pounds. The tip of the horn has broken off and there is wear and tear throughout. Please inspect photos carefully.

Type of Object

Figure, statue

Country of Origin

DR Congo

Ethnicity

Songye

Material

Wood, pigment, fabric and animal horn

Approximate Age

Unknown

Height

23" figure | 25" including base

Width

5.5"

Depth

6"

Weight

6 lbs

Overall Condition

Horn is chipped. Scuffing and wear and tear throughout.

Tribe Information

About the Songye People

“During the 16th century, the Songye migrated from the Shaba area, which is now the Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire), and settled on the left bank of the Lualaba River, on a savannah and forest-covered plateau. Divided into numerous sub-groups, the 150,000 Songye people are governed by a central chief, the Yakitenge, whose role demands that he obey special restrictive laws such as not showing grief, not drinking in public and not shaking hands with men. In addition, local rulers, the Sultani Ya Muti, distribute plots of land to their villagers and an influential secret society, Bwadi Bwa Kifwebe, counterbalances their power. Unlike their neighbors, the Luba, the Songye tribe is a patriarchal society in which agriculture is central to the economy.”

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

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