Reliquary Kota Mahongwe Bwete O Mbulu Ngulu

 

The Mahongwelocated in eastern Gabon, in the regions of Makotu and Mekambo, achieved a high degree of stylization, reducing the body to a simple support with a more or less flattened head covered with thin copper or brass sheets, apparently concave for women and convex for men. Copper and brass, wired or in the form of thin sheets, are systematically part of these reliquary guards. These lockets seem to have given rise to the other lockets KotaHis name, Bweté, is most popularly known as “reliquary cobra” because of its resemblance to the head of this snake. Some researchers see them as Egyptian influences.

The front face of this locket has a smooth band in its center that is divided into two thinner bands at the height of the eyes, approximately two thirds of its route. In its center stands out an a figure of angles in ziz zag, formed by reliefs of punch. Two semicircular eyes are raised on both sides of a rather elongated nose, formed by a thin triangular plate perpendicular to the plane of the face. On the back face a relief band with a V-shaped section runs the head from top to bottom. On both sides are punctuated punctures drawn with punch. The wood bottom of the reliquary presents the footprint of time and xylophages.