Ngbaka Statuette

Standing female figure, camped on powerful legs with outlined feet, supporting a massive torso, arms glued to the body, the large cylindrical neck supports a conical head, the face treated on a convex plane is delimited at the forehead by the characteristic striated hairstyle, the triangular nose is extended by a scarification typical of the style in the form of elongated bosses from the base of the nose to the top of the skull. The Ngbaka live in the northwest of the Congo in a region between the Oubangui and the Zaire river. Their statuary ranges from small statuettes serving as individual charms to large figures serving as protection for the whole village. These sculptures are linked to the cult of the primordial ancestors Seto and Nabo and they were made offerings to ward off bad luck during unfortunate circumstances.