Superb head that served as a lid for a reliquary, made of wood, pigments and kaolin, typical of the Ambete (M'bete) ethnic group of Gabon

Height: 37 cm, diameter at the base: 18 cm

Ambete art

Mostly known for their reliquary statues with a long cylindrical body covered in kaolin, the Ambete also produced other objects such as these reliquary lids that were used to close the boxes containing the bones of the ancestors.

Kept out of sight in a special enclosure, these reliquaries (statues and boxes) participated in the induction ceremonies of new initiates into the ngoye, a society that mainly brought together clan chiefs. They were the custodians of the secrets of the cult linked to the relics - skull bones or limbs of ancestors - to which they attributed supernatural powers.

The Ambete reliquary lid

Carved from wood that has become light, this very expressive sculpture - almost alive - presents all the characteristics of Ambete art, including a cylindrical body and small L-shaped arms.

The Ambete ethnic group

Probably detached from the Kota group, according to most sources, the Ambete are settled on the border between Gabon and the Republic of Congo.

Variants of the name Ambete

According to the sources, we observe several names: M'bete, Bamba, Bambete, Mbede, Umbete...