Large Singiti Hemba Ex Zaire Niembo Style Statue Of Luika

Large Statue Singiti Hemba Democratic Republic of Congo. This type of statue is classified (according to François Neyt "The great statuary of Zaire") as being of Niembo style of the Luika, with the elongated face with rounded shapes, the fine and long nose, the beard composed of 3 rows of rectangles, elongated cylindrical neck and the typical hairstyle in 4 well-cut lobes. These are large statues thanks to which important ancestors or renowned chiefs could incarnate during ritual ceremonies and to whom they could pay homage. I call them the Buddhas of Africa, with this serene, peaceful air, detached from human concerns, the eyes closed in meditation. Note that it is a hermaphrodite character, a very present male sex and the pregnant belly with the hands placed on it as a sign of protection, it therefore symbolizes physical strength and maternity at the same time, but pregnancy also symbolizes that of nature, abundance for harvests, gathering and hunting !These statues are often treated with roundness, softness, with a beautiful oily, dark satin patina, the cross hairstyle is typical, the feet are often missing or broken as here, some wear, knocks, stains and deposits. Large size, height 92 cm without base and 97 cm total. In the last photo, a statue of the same style which comes from the Mbulula region, it comes from the René Vander Straete collection.