Standing male ancestor figure · Nigeria, Mbembe · ID: 3034601
Artcurial, Paris, Art Tribal, 7 June 2005, Lot 59
Christie’s Paris, 15 Juin 2010, Lot 54
Description
wood, encrusted greyish brown patina, rhomb-shaped arranged arms in flat relief in front of the body, a massive neck supporting a bulky head with asymmetrical facial features, sightly dam., cracks (continuous on the left side of the body), missing parts (both feet), abrasion of patina, sacrificial traces, metal plate;
the Mbembe people live in the Ogoja province, along the banks of the middle Cross River and Awayong creek. The men of the village belong to two important associations, one of which is secular - “okowa” - and the other ritual - “ocheika”. The Mbembe believe in the Surpreme Being - “ibinokpabi” - but they also whorship their ancestors “afranong”. The “afranong” can only be contacted through the intermediary of spiritual beings “oka”. The wooden figures were hidden in the homesteads and worshipped privately by individual families.