LEGA, DRC

‍

Much of the art in the Democratic Republic of the Congo was historically created for esoteric associations of men and women, such as the Bwami society of the Lega. Bwami beliefs are pervasive in all aspects of life, shaping individual growth and governing social relations. Masks, heads, and figurines made of wood and ivory are involved in initiatory rites for the society’s highest grades, and their multilayered symbolism is unfolded through a range of performances.

Many Lega objects are adorned with dotted-circle motifs, body markings that enhance and beautify the carvings. In Lega belief, physical beauty and morality are inseparable, and the polished, ennobled surfaces of these items references the spiritual perfection of the Bwami initiate.

While many Bwami objects are clear in their depictions, some forms are more abstruse. This unusual wood carving shows an abstract face with narrow eyes, similar to Lega mask designs. It is attached to a segmented suggestion of a body, lending the piece a zoomorphic or worm-like character. The face and middle segment are covered with a multitude of small pits that recall the dotted circle motifs of the Bwami.