Yaka talisman, DRC - Lot 152

Yaka talisman, DRC Carved miniature used as a talisman to protect the Yaka from various plagues. Glossy patina. 12 x 4 cm Sold without base it was made according to the instructions of the Nganga ngoombu and the object's patron. Hierarchical and authoritarian, composed of formidable warriors, Yaka society was governed by lineage chiefs with the right of life and death over their subjects. Today, the Yaka take advantage of hunting and the prestige it brings to invoke the ancestors and perform rituals using charms. The initiation society for young people is the n-khanda, which is also found among the Eastern Kongo (Chokwe, Luba, etc.), and uses various charms and masks to ensure a vigorous lineage. The ethnic group's artistic productions have been influenced by neighboring populations, mainly the Suku and Lula ethnic groups, and are sometimes difficult to distinguish from one another.