Standing male power figure
D. R. Congo, Yaka
sold
EUR 3,000
Provenance
Maria & Paul Wyss, Basel, SwitzerlandGeorges-Jacques Haefeli, La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland
Binoche, Paris-Drouot, 10 October 2005, Lot 92
Hermann Sommerhage, Duisburg, Germany (2007)
Werner Zintl, Worms, Germany
Size
H: 29 cm
H: 11.4 inch
Description
wood, rest., base
There are a number of magico-religious cults and societies among the Yaka, whose members use figures for curing diseases, detecting and punishing criminals, guaranteeing success in all sorts of activities and, above all, for controlling evil forces and sometimes even for manipulating them.
To make the figures effective, they are equipped with magical charge “bilongo”, which is either attached to the figure or inserted into special openings.
Bourgeois distinguishes between different types of figures, with “khosi”, “phuungu” and “m-mbwoolo” - figures being the best known.
Comparing literature
Bourgeois, Arthur P., Art of the Yaka and Suku, Paris 1984, p. 107 f.Publications
Raoul Lehuard, "La collection Georges Haefeli", Arts d'Afrique Noire, no.64, 1987, p. 47AHDRC: 0015617