Figure, Hemba; D.R.C. Congo
Wood, cloth; H. 31"
Among the Hemba, ancestor effigies
called Singiti of a particular lineage segment
were hidden within the family compound in a separate
shelter. In ancestral rites, the sculptures were
the focus of invocations recalling heroic deeds
of the ancestors, reminding them of the needs of
the living, and promising that they would not be
forgotten. Blood, generally that of a chicken, was
then sprinkled on the ground and over the figures
as an offering. Manioc porridge and chicken were
then offered. Not only did these effigies commemorate
a series of four or five named chiefly ancestors
according to seniority but they also served as a
claim to land rights. Any one figure could refer
equally to a specific generation or an entire genealogy.
The demeanor of this example, sword in hand, reflects
wisdom and interior calm, and the four-lobed hairdo
signifies the four directions and crossroads where
spirits gather. The swelling stomach has associations
with lineage continuity, but in general such figures
embody intelligence, strength, and energy as well
as fertility. The Gelbard example, probably originating
from Niembo, may be ranked among the finest Hemba
ancestor images. The position of the hands creates
a carefully balanced bilateral asymmetry that is
resolved by the height and downward curving blade
of the knife in relation to the position of the
hand touching the abdomen. Additionally, the facial
features, delicately rubbed beneath a patina that
is largely and surprisingly original, are carefully
rendered with superb attention to detail. The resulting
impression is that of an ancestor, potent and dignified,
as real in death as he once was in life.
