Songye Statue with Metal on Face 34.5″ – DRC – African Art

$120.00

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SKU: 1011482 Categories: ,
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This Songye style statue showcases a male figure with his hands resting on his belly. There is thinly pounded sheet metal on his face along with animal hide attached to his lip. He measures 34.5 inches tall and weighs 16.5 pounds. There is some cracking, scuffing and wear and tear along with some damage to the base. Please inspect photos.

Type of Object

Figure, statue

Country of Origin

DR Congo

Ethnicity

Songye

Material

Wood, pigment, sheet metal and animal hide

Approximate Age

Unknown

Height

34.5"

Width

8"

Depth

9"

Weight

16.5 lbs

Overall Condition

Some cracking, scuffing and general 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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