Product Description
Articulated Iginga Doll, Lega – RDC
This rare articulated Anthropomorphic Iginga doll made of wood originates from the Lega/Bwami peoples of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Figures such as this were used as a didactic device during the ritual of the Bwami Society to educate young initiates. Their metaphoric form help instructors to pass the message as do the proverbs, legends, myths and slogans.
Made of 100% wood, vegetable fibers.
Model is W 60 – H 24 and weight 5.5 kg.
Description
This rare articulated Iginga statue represent a marionette, it is made of wood, and originates from the Lega/Bwami peoples of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Figures such as this were used as a didactic device during the ritual of the Bwami Society to educate young initiates. Their metaphoric form help instructors to pass the message as do the proverbs, legends, myths and slogans. The figure portrays angular legs tapering to the torso with protruding breasts and navel framed by long articulated arms, square shoulders supporting the head with scooped, heart-shaped facial plane, notched mouth and coffee-bean eyes. It is made of bronze. Although simple in form, these carved objects embody complex and multiple meanings, elaborated through proverbs, skits, and dances. For the Lega, physical beauty and moral excellence are inseparable. The dotted-circle motifs on many Lega works represent body markings, which enhance both the carvings and the characters they depict. Each anthropomorphic figurine symbolically represents a named personage with particular moral qualities or defects that are expressed through dance and sung aphorisms in initiations to the highest grades of the association. Although quite primitive and coarse in style and execution, very expressive Lega sculpture convey the strong sense of balance, form and serenity.
The Lega are forest people Bantu of Central Africa established mainly Democratic Republic of Congo to the east of the river Lualaba to the borders with Rwanda and Burundi, in the provinces of North Kivu , the South Kivu and Maniema. They practice a mixed economy involving agriculture, hunting and fishing. The function of the Bwami is to regulate the social, religious, and political life of the Lega. It is conveying ethical principles and establishing social norms. The great ceremonies organized for the accession to the highest level would require that entire villages be constructed to house the clan of the candidate and members of the other clans who often came from very far away to participate in the festivities. The objects are frequently moved around in various containers and grouped in large number for ceremonial displays; for this reason, there is no large Lega art.
Additional information
| Weight | 5.5 kg |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 60 × 24 cm |
| Material | Bronze, Wood, Ceramic, Terracotta, Woven rattan, Leather |
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