Figure féminine debout "hamba" ·  Angola, Luena / Tchokwé · ID: 3045297

Description

wood / bipartite, fabric, miniature glass beads, pokerwork, base

Unusually, the head of this figure is worked separately and forms the closure for the vessel-like hollowed neck which probably once served to receive magical charge.

The Luena have a matriarchic society system, which is why most of their sculptures are females representing protective spirits or female ancestors “hamba”.

The latter used to assist male diviners in their battles against the harmful or anti-social elements that threatened the community, because women were believed to have more influence in the manipulation of the supernatural.

Publications

AHDRC: 0151493