Featured Little African carving with burlap clothing

Discussion in 'Tribal Art' started by J Dagger, Aug 8, 2021.

  1. J Dagger

    J Dagger Well-Known Member

    559C6AF9-C614-4CC5-A71C-42399D020CC1.jpeg 9D1FA090-B474-48D0-BDC7-A7BD44A74331.jpeg Anyone know where this fella comes from? It came with some other carvings that I believe were all Nigerian. Probably about 8”-9” tall.
     
    J Dagger, Aug 8, 2021
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  2. Taupou

    Taupou Well-Known Member

    The figure is a Munganji Spirit Dancer, from the Pende culture, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
     
    Taupou, Aug 8, 2021
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  3. 2manybooks

    2manybooks Well-Known Member

    As Taupou said, such dolls reproduce, in miniature, traditional Minganji dancers (Munganji singular) who appear "during initiation rites, funerals, ceremonies associated with leadership and other important public gatherings". Their full-body costume is made of raffia. The dolls are made for sale.

    [​IMG]
    https://www.reddit.com/r/africancul..._rites_of_passage_minganji_masqueraders_near/

    upload_2021-8-8_14-12-57.jpeg
    https://africa.si.edu/collections/o...e;jsessionid=2AC3CFEE96C42BA3B01FAD578DABCDEC

    Minganji dancers appear at about the 3 minute mark:
     
    2manybooks, Aug 8, 2021
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  4. J Dagger

    J Dagger Well-Known Member

    Thanks Taupou and 2many! Great information. What frenetic dancing! I love African music and dancing, so infectious. When you experience it in person it really taps into a buried primal spirit.
     
    J Dagger, Aug 8, 2021
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  5. J Dagger

    J Dagger Well-Known Member

    This guy immediately reminded me of this guy. D0DE09FB-3943-4272-9367-B636B78E5E63.jpeg 8BE80CCB-E50F-43A8-9892-93B1AE7F0EC8.jpeg
     
    J Dagger, Aug 8, 2021
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