Bâton rituel de la société d'initiation "khimba" ·  R. D. Congo, Bakongo · ID: 3046733

Description

wood, kaolin, base

These staffs were used as dance wands or ritual musical instruments (rattles) in the final initiation ceremonies. For this purpose the figures were wrapped with plaited raffia fiber, to which are tied numerous nutshells that make noise when agitated.

The staff could also be planted in the ground to delineate sacred spaces and demarcate initiation proceedings.

Littérature comparée

Felix, Marc L. (ed.), Kongo Kingdom Art, China 2003, p. 107