Yaka Figure
D.R. Congo
Wood, fibers, textile, beads, and horns - 16,5 cm
Provenance:
Important private collection, Belgium
Exhibited:
Utotombo: L'Art d'Afrique noire dans les collections privées belges, Brussels, Palais des Beaux-Arts, 25 March - 5 June 1988, p.212, cat.175, ill.
Published:
F. Herreman, in Utotombo: L'Art d'Afrique noire dans les collections privées belges, Brussels, 1988, p.297
The torso of the human figure is wrapped in cloths and is hung with all sorts of miniature objects such as a mortar, baskets, a slit drum, etc. There are also a few antelope horns attached to it. These are usually meant to store magical substances. The main function of this type of statue is to provide protection from sorcerers and other hostile forces.
They are often attached to one of the poles that support the roof of the house.
