Product Description
Cultural Bembe Biteki Statue – RDC
This Bembe statuette originates from the People’s Republic of the Congo. Bembe ancestor statues are rare and they can only be found in the south western part of their territory. The most known are called Biteki, and portray generally impressive corporal scarification. They mostly represent Heads of village, warriors and women.
Made of 100% wood.
Model is W 74 – H 17 and weight 5 kg.
Description
This Bembe statuette originates from the People’s Republic of the Congo. Bembe ancestor statues are rare and they can only be found in the south western part of their territory. The most known are called Biteki, and portray generally impressive corporal scarification. They mostly represent Heads of village, warriors and women.
They have rough features, a cylindrical bust and a large head. These statues are small in size and are used for exorcisms and healing illnesses. It is likely that certain feminine statues may improve the fecundity of their owner. These feminine statues have short legs, a large head with almond shaped eyes and a triangular nose, finely sculpted ears, and hair carved in, relief on the forehead. Their hands are placed on their stomachs. Miniaturization, scarification, and very specific expressions are characteristics of Bembe sculptures: geometric scarification, many marks on the face and body prove a successful initiation. Their average size varies between 10 and 15 centimeters. Tattooing on the lower abdomen demonstrates a concern for detail and finish. The eyes are embedded with seashells or crockery.
The Bembe form a small group of 60 to 80,000 people; they live on the plateaus situated to the north of the Zaire River, as well as on the shores of Stanley Pool and in the cities of Brazzaville, Dolisie, and Pointe-Noire. The Bembe had close contacts with their neighbors the Teke, but Kongo contributions were essential to their culture and traditions. Their social organization was based on the matrimonial clan, whose members could live in several villages. The family unit generally included three generations. The Bembe believed in a creator god, Nzambi, whom they did not depict figuratively. The ancestors had close ties with the living and received offerings through the “priest,” who made appeals to statuettes, the kitebi or bimbi, consecrated by the sorcerer. These figurines were the idealized images of the ancestors and would often wear attributes that allowed them to be identified as medicine men or hunters. The ancestor worship among the Bembe is older, though, and precedes the use of magic statues, nkisi, by the sorcerers.
Additional information
| Weight | 5 kg |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 74 × 17 cm |
| Material | Bronze, Wood, Ceramic, Terracotta, Woven rattan, Leather |
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