Very beautiful African statuette in wood, pigment, kaolin and various, which comes from the Léga ethnic group of the Democratic Republic of Congo

Height: 48 cm

The Lega ethnic group

The Lega came from Uganda during the 17th century and settled on the west bank of the Lualaba River in what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire). Also known as Warega, the two hundred thousand individuals making up the Lega tribe live in autonomous villages surrounded by palisades, generally located on hilltops.

The role of chief, known as kindi, is held by the oldest man in the clan, who must also be the highest-ranking member of Bwami society. This society, open to both men and women, regulates the social and political life of the Lega. The passage of the seven male and four female grades of this society is made possible by the giving of gifts to the community and participation in initiations.

As in other forest tribes, men hunt and clear land while women cultivate cassava...

Léga art

Léga art is exclusively associated with Bwami society. Each object, used only by initiates, has a specific role and function in ceremonies and rites.

Léga statues, called maginga, are rarely taller than 50 cm and are generally carved from wood or ivory; used during initiation ceremonies, they played a mnemonic role by serving as a support for a proverb or a story involving ancestors...

This Léga maginga statuette

is among the largest that can be found among the Léga.