Reliquary Kota Obamba

Together with the Mahongwes are the best known manifestations of the reliquaries Kota. Like its northern neighbours, its use by the Obamba can come from the 10th century approximately, developing from the century onwards. XV with the first contact with Europeans, which facilitate the provisioning in brass and copper. These metals, yellow and red, were symbols of wealth and their employment seemed appropriate to honor the dead.

They are mainly characterized by a kind of “croisant” that crowns the hairstyle, with large ears or lateral fins, covered with brass or copper sheets, mostly of European origin, from which a kind of pendant hangs. His body is formed by a rhombus parallel to his face. These lockets are named after Ngulu-Mbulu The purpose of the guardian of the reliquary is to pay homage to the ancestors, guarding their relics, to implore their protection and acute.

The dimensions of this figure are exceptional, as is its weight. In front of it, under whose deep and concave ciliary arches stand out two flat discs that form the eyes that on either side of the nose preside a heart-shaped face. One-piece ringed neck. The back, entirely made of wood, except the neck, presents fissures and deteriorations due to the passage of time.

In styleShamayethe lateral parts appeared in a discreet way, rather to the sides of the face. While the Ndassa, more southern, seem to have achieved the highest degree of style refinementObamba.

The styleSanguorMasangoreduces the proportions of the head and suppresses the lateral parts, although it retains the rhombus and copper splattering. They always appear in the center of a basket braided with vegetable fibers. These figures are named afterMbumba.