Tribal Art

Pende Statue (N° 23260)

Statue depicting a woman wearing a helmet mask. Polychrome satin patina. Erosions.
The Western Pende live on the banks of the Kwilu, while the Eastern settled on the banks of the Kasaï downstream from Tshikapa. The influences of neighboring ethnic groups, Mbla, Suku, Wongo, Leele, Kuba and Salempasu imprinted on their large tribal art sculpture. Within this diversity, the realistic Mbuya masks, produced every ten years, take on a festive function and embody different characters. The masks of initiation and those of power, the minganji, represent the ancestors and occur successively during the same ceremonies, agricultural festivals, initiation and circumcision rituals mukanda , enthronement of the leader. Governed by heads of families, the Djogo, with a priestly function, the Pende have sculptures intended to come into contact with the ancestors, to whom sacrifices are offered. They are stored in a room or house adjoining that of the chief.