Tribal Art

FrenchAfrican art collection.
African sculpture remarkably expressive, from central Tanzania, where the Nyamezi and Sukuma live. A spherical head with high cheekbones, bodily marks in the form of pellets, articulated arms that a strap of skin attaches to the shoulders characterize this female figure. Satin brown patina. Signs of use, abrasions, desication cracks.
a The Nyamwezi, Nyamézi, form the largest group among those established in north-central Tanzania. Coming from various origins, although sharing the same cultural specificities, their ritual and artistic production presents very different formal aspects. The cult of ancestors and chiefs, of major importance within their culture, marked their statuary. The Sukuma and the Nyamézi produced statues represented in a static position, some of which, with filiform limbs, evoke the artistic creations of Alberto Giacometti. They were involved in the 19th century in the caravan trade that crossed their Unyamwézi territory. They were therefore led to travel from the Congo (R.D.C.) to the coastal cities of the Indian Ocean, where they were called "Nyamwézi", "men of the moon" or "men of the West". Organized in villages headed by chiefs, their spiritual life remained however under the responsibility of the sorcerer.