Hemba head figure

Height 24cm

The Hemba live to the south-east of the Democratic Republic of Congo on land situated between the Congo River to the west and Lake Tanganyka to the east. On this small expanse of land the Luika River forms a natural barrier between the Hembas of the north and those of the south.



The Hemba have produced some of the finest carvings to come out of Africa. Their art has been influenced by their larger and more famous neighbors, the Luba. The types of carvings that the Hemba produce also parallel those of the Luba, and includes major statues dedicated to important ancestors, and a multitude of small but stunning pieces like stools, neckrests and staffs. Both groups produce relatively few masks, with the most familiar Hemba mask being the monkey-faced "soko."


Perhaps the most famous of Hemba statues are the large ancestor figures known as "Singiti." These can be quite tall, up to 40 inches. They are generally male, with enlarged heads and hands resting on an often distended abdomen. There is usually an impressive beard as well as a distinctive backswept hairdo finished off in the shape of a cross. The patina is often warm and lush. These are important village possessions, and are kept in special shrines which are guarded by the "Fumu Mwalo," or chief of the clan. He alone can present the statues during important rituals, during which he communicates with the ancestors, using the singiti as intermediaries. Much more rare than the singiti are the impressive warrior figures holding weapons, and these are among the most sought-after of all African statues. They are treated with the utmost respect by the chief, and when displayed will often receive offerings of blood from sacrificed animals. This produces a heavy, encrusted patina over time, adding to their beauty and desireability. In addition to the ancestor statues, the Hemba have produced many smaller and utilitarian objects of great beauty. Again, these are often difficult to distinguish from similar Luba pieces. Neckrests, stools, small amulets, and rattles predominate. The use of masks among the Hemba is thought to be rare, with only the charming, simian-style "soko" masks easily identified. There are also a few field-collected examples of serenely beautiful human-faced masks, but these are extremely rare, and like the "soko," their meaning is obscure. The art of the Hemba is enormously significant, if not completely unique, and despite scholarly progress, still the subject of controversy among experts.



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