Tribal Art

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Exceptional Sango reliquary sculpture offering a head resting on a long metal-encircled neck. The radically abstract body unfolds in a diamond shape, following the classic structure of reliquary figures.
Among the Shira-Punu group, The Massango, Mashango, Sango, Sangu, settled on the Chaillu massif in Gabon and in the province of Ngounié. The use of baskets and also bundles of reliquaries with the bones of the deceased, on which sculptures of this type were enthroned, was widespread throughout Gabon, among the Fang, the Kota, but also the Mitsogho and the Massango > , in which this cult takes the name of Bumba , Mbumba. The sculptures playing the role of "medium" between the living and the dead who watched over the descendants, were associated with the bwete rites among the Kota, comparable to those of the Fang. In the exclusive presence of initiates, the major decisions of the clan were taken during ceremonies during which the reliquaries were taken out and used. In order to reactivate the magic charge, the initiates rubbed the relic with sand.