Katanda statue of the LEGA, Bwami society, DR Congo, ca. 1970
Overview
Attractive Katanda statue of the Lega tribe. Within Bwami society one finds a number of fixed representations of important social themes. The Bwami society guards the moral values of the tribe and ensures that they are upheld. Themes are expressed in images such as this Katanda statue, Katanda or sleeping mat stands for the adulterous woman who mocks the rules of modesty and loyalty expected of the wife of a high-ranking official of the Bwami.
It is a hardwood statue where the striking look of the face stands out and makes the statue really powerful. The statue is also quite abstract with short raised arms and a wide body with the well-known "holes", in this case burned and short angular legs. The statue is neatly placed on a custom-made stand that is of course included.
Height: 34 cm, including foot/stand approx. 36.7 cm
Image width: 16 cm
Weight: 728 grams, including standard 925 grams
Origin: DR Congo
Provenance: Obtained from a private Flemish collection