Figure magique janiforme "mpwau"

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Description

wood, base

The Teke carved different kinds of power figures, which were provided with various magical substances and had different functions. They are usually called “biteke”.

This special Janus-shaped type of a power figure, was called “mpwau”, according to Felix, and belonged to a land chief’s regalia.

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Littérature comparée

Felix, Marc L., 100 Peoples of Zaire and their Sculpture, Brussels 1987, p. 173, fig. 6

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