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| Lega human figure`Kakulu ka Mpito', Democratic Republic of the Congo 14.5" tall wood, kaolin, pigment At one time animal hair was attached around the outline of the face by small nails. It was removed because most of the hair had been eaten by moths. $450 "Kakulu ka Mpito is the unfortunate husband of Wayinda. The two figures are often paired during performances. "Kakulu ka Mpito was duped by the adulterous Waiyinda or by Mukobania, 'the divider,' who caused trouble by calling together people whom he did not know well for a beer party. Though Kakulu ku Mpito is not personally responsible for ritual pollution or social discord, sculptures of this type are nevertheless often executed either without arms or with arms severely reduced and undifferentiated from the torso. The lack of formal balance is augmented by an extremely large head. Since Kakulu ka Mpito is a victim of antisocial behevior, it could be argued that it expresses the negative effects of, rather than the factors contributing to, discord in Lega society." (Information source - Sotheby's November 1999, Lot 105) I believe this figure was carved by a Lega carver and most likely dates from the 70's - 80's. Despite its appearance, I believe this object was made specifically for the collecting market. Additional information and examples of these types of figures can be found on the Lega pages of Rand African Art. Recommended reading: Art of the Lega by Elisabeth Lynn Cameron, University of California Los Angeles, Fowler; illustrated edition edition (November 2001). |
