Tribal Art

Camped in a posture of challenge, this subject of African art has a ventral load (bilongo) for therapeutic purposes. The Vili produced a variety of nkisi individual use statues, to which multiple virtues were attributed. The glazed eyes symbolize clairvoyance in a face with naturalistic features.
The Vili , the Lâri, the Sûndi, the Woyo, the Bembe, the Bwende, the Yombé and the Kôngo formed the Kôngo group, led by King ntotela . Their kingdom reached its peak in the 16th century with the trade in ivory, copper and the slave trade. Present along the Gabonese coast, the Vili broke away from the Kongo kingdom in the 16th century and the Loango kingdom became a powerful state. Now urbanized for the most part, they still integrate traditional associations, depending on the worship ...

Ancestor figure whose removable head reveals a shallow container. The three-sided head symbolizes the gift of ubiquity. The scarifications recall the scales of the mythical serpent Djo, who is said to have created the world and father of Ebongo, primordial hybrid ancestor of men. Velvety polychrome patina, chips and cracks from drying.
Two totemic clans once formed the Kuyu ethnic group, living along the river of the same name, in the northwest of the People's Republic of Congo: in the West that of the panther, and in the East that of the snake. A secret male association, Ottoté, played an important political role in the appointment of chiefs. The initiation of the young people ended with the revelation of the serpent god Ebongo represented in the form of a head. The Kibe-kibe ...

Collection of African Tribal Art Claude Auge Dogon statuette anchored in a circular block. The arms are missing, isolating narrow shoulders. A hand remains on the thin bust marked with irregular reliefs. A crest underlines the head with erased features, a labret pointing discreetly at the level of the chin. A notch draws a female sex. In African art, this type of sculpture associated with an individual cult adorned the Dogon family altar. Grainy black patina. Abrasions.

Carved for the most part on order placed by a family, the Dogon statues can also be the object of worship on the part of the whole community. However, their functions remain little known. Alongside Islam, Dogon religious rites are organized around four main cults: the Lébé, relating to fertility, under the ...

Ex-collection of French African art.
African statues of lineage or clan leaders in the tribal art of the Mbede, Mbete, or Ambete.
This version of the reliquary is illustrated by the arrangement and rhythm of its colored planes and by the sober geometry of the facial features. The cult of onkani ancestors, among the Mbete, is surrounded by African figures such as this sculpture whose dorsal cavity conceals baby bird down and fragments of feathers. Matte patina, desiccation cracks, erosions.
The Mbete form a people of Gabon, on the border of Middle Congo, neighboring the Obamba and the Pounou, whose history has been marked by a long-term conflict against the Teke. They do not have a centralized political organization and practice ancestor worship.

Intended to counter various problems, songye magical statues have cavities into which components called bishimba are introduced. This copy, desecrated, is visibly devoid of it. A copper strip, held together with long staples, runs from the skull to the end of the nose. The cowrie shells aptly represent eyelids fringed with eyelashes, while the mouth unfolds in a toothed grin. Vigorously cut, the morphology is articulated in powerful and exuberant projections around ample digitized feet and hands. Glossy dark patina then orange from the bust. Desiccation cracks.
The Songye fetish, magical sculpture Nkisi, nkishi (pl. mankishi), plays the role of mediator between gods and men. The large examples are the collective property of an entire village, the smaller figures reserved for ...

This sculpture depicts a concave face, capped with large extended side panels of two pendeloques. It is plated with copper and brass leaves that a discreet nailing makes adhere to the wooden soul. The set is animated by geometric patterns. The eyes surrounded by a resinous amalgam are made up of bone or horn washers. The Kota inhabit the eastern part of Gabon, which is rich in iron ore, and some in the Republic of Congo. The blacksmith, in addition to wood carving, made tools for agricultural work as well as ritual weapons. The sculptures, playing the role of "medium" between the living and the dead, who watched over the descendants, were associated with the rites of the bwete , comparable to those of the Fang . They are sometimes bifaces, mbulu-viti, symbolizing both the masculine and ...

African statuette depicting a subject with prominent features including bulbous eyes and a sagittal braid forming a loop. The subject adopts an unusually hunched posture, thumbs together extended forward.
The body is streaked with scarified marks. Chipped brown patina.
The Vere, Verre , Were, Duru-Verre, or even Dii, live in the northeast of Nigeria, in the state of Adamawa (former Gongola), and in the north of Cameroon. This very small population lives in circular huts grouped into fortified villages.
The Vere statuettes, whose function remains unknown, are rare, and present analogies with the works produced by the Mumuye, their close neighbors established between Nigeria and Cameroon.

This carved figure Nkisi, nkishi (pl. mankishi )is embellished with feathers at the place where the top horn used to be. Her angular face is powerfully expressive. The magic charge bishimba was introduced into the skull cavity if the abdomen did not have it. The power of the fetish would be further enhanced by the presence of accessories, metal rings in this case. Light wood coated with a locally abraded black patina.
These protection fetishes for homes are among the most popular in Africa. The Nkisi plays the role of mediator between gods and men. The large specimens are the collective property of an entire village, while the smaller figures belong to an individual or a family. In the sixteenth century, the Songyes migrated from the Shaba region to settle on the left ...

In the north of Benoué, this type of anthropomorphic sculptures are used during funerals, agricultural festivals or in cases of danger. Their role is that of mediator between the afterlife and the priest. Partially shiny dark patina, grainy residue with a matte appearance. Erosions and desiccation cracks.

The Jukuns are a population of West and Central Africa living mainly in Nigeria in the upper Benue Valley, also in the northwest of Cameroon.
The Southern Jukun have of a tradition of masks, including the male akuma mask linked to the cult of the same name and of which four types were listed by A.Rubin. They often have horns evoking the ram or the antelope, in relation to the Akuma cult. The statues are rare, and relate to the Mam cult widespread in eastern Nigeria. They ...

Collection of French African art.
Schematic African doll amulet. Beautiful brown patina, alterations from use.
When menstruation appears, in Africa, the young girl is considered a potential mother, aided by ritual sculptures. During the initiatory period of seclusion, the doll, which requires care, becomes the young girl's only companion. Subsequently, it will be carried on the back, or tied around the neck. Wooden dolls (biiga), carved in their free time by blacksmiths in Burkina Faso, are given to girls and boys by their parents. The wealthier Mossi buy plastic dolls. In the case where the girl does not give birth, a larger doll is sculpted to treat her like a real newborn. The doll will not be abandoned after the birth of the child, the mother will continue to take ...

Baoule male statue evoking a "Blolo bian", sculpted to embody the husband of the "beyond", according to the instructions of the diviners. Neat statue, sculpted with many details, coated with a black patina.
Around sixty ethnic groups populate Ivory Coast, including the Baoulé, in the center, Akans from Ghana, a people of the savannah, practicing hunting and agriculture just like the Gouro from whom they borrowed their ritual cults and masks. carved. Two types of statues are produced by the Baoulé, Baulé, in the ritual context: The Waka-Sona statues, "being of wood" in baoulé, evoke an assié oussou, being of the earth. They are part of a type of statue intended to be used as a medium tool by the komien diviners, the latter being selected by the asye usu spirits in order to ...

Small male figure associated with the cult of the ancestors, carved in dense wood then carefully veneered, using fine staples, with copper metal sheets with khaki reflections. Encased in a thick neck, the head offers a flat face whose summary features are distinguished by their exorbitant pupils. The bust of the subject, on which the folded arms are concentrated, is supported by bent legs whose roundness expresses power. The posture would be one of those accompanying ceremonial dances. The metal is engraved with patterns evoking tribal body markings and braids highlighting the crested headdress.
The Mbete, Ambete, form a tribe of Gabon, on the border of the Middle Congo, close to the Obamba and the Pounou, whose history has been marked by a long-term conflict against the Teke. ...

This Lobi statuette "Bateba" was placed on the altar after a ritual to become the receptacle of a bush spirit, the Thil, and thus become an active being, an intermediary who fights against sorcerers and all other evil forces. The small spherical head, slightly tilted to the side, surmounts a narrow bust with drooping shoulders and arms that are placed alongside the body. The figure stands upright on wide feet. Golden brown glossy surface showing the wood grain.
When honored, these spirits manifest their benevolence in the form of abundant rains, good health, numerous births; Ignored, they withdraw it and bring devastating epidemics, drought and suffering.
These spirits transmit to the diviners the laws that the followers must follow to receive their protection.
They ...

“Reliquary figure” of the Bwete devoid of its charge. Cut according to traditional conventions, it stands out thanks to its geometric head with a flat face framed by protruding ears, perched on a long neck lined with copper spirals. Lustrous patina, erosions and desiccation cracks.
Among the Shira-Punu group, the Massango, Mashango, Sango, Sangu, established themselves on the Chaillu massif in Gabon and in the province of Ngounié. The use of baskets and also reliquary packages with bones of the deceased, on which sculptures of this type were enthroned, was widespread throughout Gabon, among the Fang, the Kota, but also the Mitsogho and the Massango, among whom this cult takes the name of Bumba, Mbumba. The sculptures playing the role of "medium" between the living and the ...

These late sculptures, which were made when the king died, represent an oba whose neck is encircled with multiple necklaces of coral beads. His "oro" headdress is surmounted by an excrescence on which appears the king sitting with his ceremonial sword.
Brown patina, golden reflections.
African art from Benin is described as court art because it is closely associated with the king, known as Oba. The tradition of bronze court objects from the Benin Kingdom dates back to the 14th century. The numerous bronze alloy heads and statues created by the artists of Benin were reserved for the exclusive use of the inhabitants of the royal palace and, more often than not, placed on altars consecrated by each new Oba. These rectangular altars were surmounted by heads, statues, carved ...

African sculpture of Mbumba Sango reliquary, small in size, offering a flat face overlooking a long neck decorated with metal spirals. The abstract morphology forms a diamond, respecting traditional standards. Glossy brown patina, copper metal.
Among the Shira-Punu group, the Massango, Mashango, Sango, Sangu, established themselves on the Chaillu massif in Gabon and in the province of Ngounié. The use of baskets and also reliquary packages with bones of the deceased, on which sculptures of this type were enthroned, was widespread throughout Gabon, among the Fang, the Kota, but also the Mitsogho and the Massango, among whom this cult takes the name of Bumba, Mbumba. The sculptures playing the role of "medium" between the living and the dead who watched over their ...

This female figure with slender arms, an arched bust, wears traditional scarifications and tattoos. The body stretched forward, the hands resting on the abdomen, highlight the umbilicus, symbol of filiation. Cracks and abrasions. Satin patina.
The Senoufos, the name given to them by French settlers, are mainly made up of farmers who have dispersed between Mali, Côte d'Ivoire and Burkina Faso. Councils of elders, headed by an elected chief, administer Senufo villages. Each of them has its own Poro association which initiates young boys from the age of seven in a succession of three cycles lasting seven years. They gather in a sacred enclosure called sinzanga located near the village, among the trees. Upon the death of one of the members of the Poro, the statues named pombibele were ...

The "inverted doubles" in the African art sculptures of Les Baule
Offering crystallized residues of ritual practices, this statuette Blobo bia, or bloblo bla, embodies a spiritual spouse. She adopts the traditional posture, hands enhancing the umbilical region. This type of object is carved according to the indications of the diviner. Chipped polychrome patina. Desication cracks.
About sixty ethnic groups populate Côte d'Ivoire, including the Baoulé, in the center, Akans from Ghana, people of the savannah, practicing hunting and agriculture just like the Gouro from whom they borrowed ritual cults and masks carved. Two types of statues are produced by the Baoulé , Baulé , within the ritual framework: The Waka-Sona statues, "being of wood" in baoulé, evoke a assié oussou, ...

This ritual sculpture, plated with metal sheets according to the kota tradition, forms a stylized image of the ancestor, a coat of arms also for the clan, and is generally distinguished by the shape of the headdress, which varies according to the region.
The Kota inhabit the eastern part of Gabon, which is rich in iron ore, and some in the Republic of Congo. The blacksmith, in addition to wood carving, made tools for agricultural work as well as ritual weapons. The sculptures playing the role of "medium" between the living and the dead who watched over the descendants, were associated with the rites at bwete , comparable to those of the Fang . They are sometimes bifaces, the mbulu-viti, symbolizing the masculine and feminine aspect at the same time. This type of room, called ...

African sculpture whose singular face offers featureless features and a gaping mouth. The massive head, set into prominent shoulders, is decorated with a crest and a goatee. The volume of the pelvis is supported by wide, crenellated, arched legs. This type of statue was intended for funeral and initiation rites. Thick cracked patina, drying cracks.

The Kaka, or Keaka, ethnic group, so named by the German settlers, is located in a border area between Nigeria and Cameroon. Their statuary demonstrates a certain influence from other ethnic groups such as the Mumuye whose statues also present short, bent legs topped by a slender body. Their very thick and crusty patina, their wide feet and their wide open mouth are, however, typical features allowing them to be distinguished from ...

Rare Byeri ancestor figure, a singularly naturalistic work of a woman with a muscular and fleshy body. The crested headdress is underlined with metal, linear scarifications vertically divide the face.
Velvety patina, abrasions of use and erosions of the base. Desication crack.
The peoples known as the Fang, or "Pahouins", qualified as conquering warriors, invaded by successive leaps, from village to village, the entire vast region between the Sanaga in Cameroon and the Ogooué in Gabon, between the 18th and the beginning of the 20th century. The boxes containing the relics of illustrious ancestors were guarded by the oldest man in the village, the "esa". Surmounted by a statue or a head that acted as guardian of the "byeri" boxes, they were stored in a dark corner of ...