Africa | Democratic Republic of the Congo
Songye Figure
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Nkishi power figure
Eki style, Songye
Carved wood and horn
Early 20th century
Height: 9 ½ in. (24 cm)
Ex collection Vander Straete, Brussels
Ex private collection, Brussels
Ex private collection, Paris
Songye figure 24 cm ex Vander Straete / Galerie Flak
Price on request
The Songye reside in the southeast of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, near the Lomami River in Central Africa. The political organization of the Songye is structured around the personality of their chief, a holy, benevolent figure endowed with magical-religious power. Secret societies structure social, political and religious life. Fetishes, amulets (boanga or nganga) and power figures (nkishi) are omnipresent among the Songye.
This figure with impressive volumes is in the same style (Eki) as two statuettes published in the reference book "La redoutable statuaire Songye" by François Neyt, plates 40 & 41.
This figure with impressive volumes is in the same style (Eki) as two statuettes published in the reference book "La redoutable statuaire Songye" by François Neyt, plates 40 & 41.
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