Male ancestor figure "singiti"
D. R. Congo, Hemba
not available anymore
Provenance
Ton-Peter Widdershoven, Amsterdam, The NetherlandsSize
H: 60,5 cm
H: 23.8 inch
Description
wood, base
Ancestor figures, called “singiti”, represent famous warriors, clan founders or local chiefs, which are put in small huts and venerated. Noble families of the eastern savannahs of the Democatic Republic of Congo adopted the practice of sculpting images of their ancestors, thus preserving the memory of their ancestors and constituting a genealogical chart of their lineage. Through this custom they reinforced the authority of the ancestral tradition and affirmed their ownership of the ground.
Comparing literature
Fagaly, William, Ancestors of Congo Square, New Orleans 2011, p. 300Publications
AHDRC: 0153755