wolfgang-jaenicke
A Songy container
A Songy container
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A Songy container, Zaire, region Belande (?) supported by four female figures who are holding their arms in a braided way, the large vessel decorated with geometric patterns, on top a male figure holding his stomach, his features are quite energies by his smile from which ones sees his teeth showing, his large feet hold his up straight, the vessel is well decorated with diamond shaped carvings. Unknown in Lit.: But it should be borne in mind that such vessels exist throughout West Africa, which were mostly in possession of the ethnic elites of the aristocracy or prominent chiefs to store their regalia. An outstanding example of Songye art.
“During the 16th century, the Songye migrated from the Shaba area, which is now the Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire), and settled on the left bank of the Lualaba River, on a savannah and forest-covered plateau. Divided into numerous sub-groups, the 150,000 Songye people are governed by a central chief, the Yakitenge, whose role demands that he obey special restrictive laws such as not showing grief, not drinking in public and not shaking hands with men. In addition, local rulers, the Sultani Ya Muti, distribute plots of land to their villagers and an influential secret society, Bwadi Bwa Kifwebe, counterbalances their power. Unlike their neighbors, the Luba, the Songye tribe is a patriarchal society in which agriculture is central to the economy.”Source: Baquart, Jean-Baptiste. The Tribal Arts of Africa. New York: Thames and Hudson Inc. 1998. Print, Francois Neyt, Songye, page 36 ff.
Height total: 124 cm
Height of the vessel: 65 cm
Height of the sculpture: 59 cm
Weight: 12,5 kg
