Small figure "mbulenga" · D. R. Congo, Lulua · ID: 3033295
Harald & Ursula Suhr, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada / Germany (1983)
Description
wood, dark brown patina, encrusted in some areas, schematized body with rich scarification marks, dam., the right arm missing in parts, fissures, abrasion of paint, on metal plate;
small “mbulenga” figures belonged to young women having difficulty with pregnancy. The woman carried the small figure attached to her waist throughout daily chores. Regular offerings of oils, red earth, and kaolin were rubbed into the surface creating a thick glossy patina. “Mbulenga” figures show intricate body scarification, long necks, high foreheads, strong calves, and rich shiny surfaces. For the Lulua believe that physical beauty not only reflects moral goodness, but also increases the ritual effectiveness of the figures. They are carved from the sacred “Muabi” tree, which invites ancestral spirits to inhabit, and empower sculpture.
Comparing literature
Brown, Kellim, Southern Kasai Hands, Brüssel 2011, p. 10 f. Grootaers, J.-L., Eisenburger, I. (ed.), Forms of Wonderment, Vol. II, 2002, p. 543