Statue Kitebi O Bimbi

Nzambi is the creator god of the BembeDispenser of life and death. Like most African peoples, he is never represented in his statues. The Bembe They have statuettes, slightly squatted, which they invoke to obtain their protection and especially a good hunting. Your statues, kitebi or bimbiIn the abdomen they carry the ritual scarifications that form symmetrical and geometric drawings. Sometimes they wear glass eyes and the tool or instrument that represented their profession during their earthly life. And other times they present a ventral cavity destined to receive the magic substances and that makes them nkisses. Their statues are protective and have healing properties.

This statue presents us with a woman kneeling with her right hand next to her belly and the left one embroiders her belly and breasts. Head, large, quite realistic, with scarifications, imploring attitude and an expression of resignation. A curiosity, rare in the African statuary, nipples and navel are not prominent but present a small look. It carries a sex cover and contrary to most statues, mainly male, has no body scarification.

These statues are just like the masks. alunga They have a great influence on initiation rites, the Kalunga or Butende, since they transmit their values to neophytes and occupy a prominent place in bembe society as they are mediators between the invisible world and that of the living. Brown patina.