Pair of dance figures ·  Tanzania, Sukuma · ID: 3034918

Description

wood, spotted brown patina, remains of black and reddish brown paint at the heads of the male/resp. the female figure, traces of red paint, corpulent bodies with round forms and movable arms (fixed by metal tags), drilled eyes and gap-like mouth, slightly dam., minor missing parts (feet, thumb and upper arm of the female right hand side), cracks, paint rubbed off, sacrificial traces;
traditionally used at initiation ceremonies. According to A. Bessire they appear in Sukuma dance competitions as well. Two groups (“bogobogobo” and “bakomyalume”) perform simultaneously to compete for a larger audience. Large and small scale dance figures are employed. The figures are called “mabinda” or “maleba”, terms which seem to refer not only to a specific taxonomy of objects, but rather to a more general notion of attracting the crowd, respectively to describe the objects and paraphernalia associated with the dance.

Expertise

Certificat, Pierre Dartevelle, Brussels, 24.4.2001

Comparing literature

Jahn, Jens (Hg.), Tanzania, München 1994, p. 287

Exhibition

10. Festival Mondiale des Marionettes, Charleville-Mézierès, France 2000