Head sculpture of the snake cult ·  D. R. Congo, Kuyu · ID: 3050470

Description

wood, colour pigments, base

The Kuyu “dyo” (snake god) ceremonies show performances alternated between mimed sequences and dances. Different actors appear one after the other. Among them are the “eouya” (the “snakemen”) and the primordial couple (“djokou”, the father and “ebotita”, the mother). At the end of the performance, the chief initatior reveals “ebongo”, father of the “eouya”.

According to Bénézech, “eouyas” dance is called “kébé-kébé” by the Western Kuyu. The performance marks the end of the boys’ initiation.

Head sculptures, such as this one, were attached to staffs, which the dancers held with stretched out arms high above their heads, while their bodies were entirely concealed by raffia-cloth robes referred to as snakeskin.

The object Head sculpture of the snake cult with the object ID 3050470 was part of the auction 102nd Auction on April 13, 2024, lot number 242 at that time and is currently available for EUR 3,000 in Open sale.

Here you will find more objects and interesting facts about African art.

Comparing literature

Bénézech, Anne-Marie, "So-called Kuyu Carvings", in African Arts, Vol.XXII, no.1, 1988, p. 52 ff.