Metoko Itea female figure, DRC - Lot 108

Metoko Itea female figure, DRC This figure appeared during initiation rites, accompanied by her male counterpart Ntanda. They also welcomed the souls of the recently deceased before their departure for the afterlife, and were then abandoned in the forest. Lozenge motifs punctuate the matte surface. Erosions and cracks 52 x 11 cm The Metoko and Lengola, whose ritual sculptures are very similar, are primary forest peoples dedicated to the worship of a single God, a monotheism rare in Africa. Their three-tiered society, the Bukota, structured daily life and accommodated both men and women. It represents the equivalent of the Bwami association of the Lega. The sculptures played a role in initiation ceremonies, and were then placed on the tombs of high-grade initiates. Kakungu in particular was surrounded by other sculpted objects, including figures of the Ntanda and Itea couples, in connection with initiation rites and circumcision. Most of these figures had a name, as in Lega traditions.