Sculpture Staff

The figurative Mvwala sticks, major emblems of authority in Congo, served as a “communication channel and a symbol of legitimacy” connecting ancestors to the living. This natural wood sculpture from the Yombe tribe in the Democratic Republic of Congo, dating from the middle of the 20th century, measures 5.5x5x28.5 cm. Illustrating the iconography of Congolese chiefdom, it represents a woman on her knees, underlining the preponderant role of women in this society. A unique, fascinating artifact, testifying to the cultural and symbolic richness of Yombe traditions.