{"id":7100,"date":"2017-01-22T19:19:43","date_gmt":"2017-01-22T18:19:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/detlev.von.graeve.org\/?p=7100"},"modified":"2020-05-22T21:38:53","modified_gmt":"2020-05-22T19:38:53","slug":"rider-on-leopard-from-the-mbala-neighbors-of-the-yaka","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/detlev.von.graeve.org\/?p=7100","title":{"rendered":"Rider on leopard – from the Mbala, neighbors of the Yaka"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Published: 17 february 2017 \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 Original version\u00a0 22 january 2017<\/a><\/p>\n

A delicate double figure of a land chief, 32 cm high. Dark patina shining red on the edges, dense wood. Condition: Good. It was part of a family treasure. I cannot say how old, as Mobutu since 1965 has modernized and solidified the rights of those who traditionally possessed the ground. A remarkable resistance to the German climate points to an earlier date of making.<\/p>\n

\"Mbala-Reiter-frontal-IMG_7246\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Special feature: Rectangular <\/span>opening in the belly<\/span>, opened and closed again.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Origin and style<\/em><\/span><\/h4>\n

„Mbala, Province Bandundu“ is the given provenance.<\/span> The approximately 60,000 Mbala settle between northern Yaka, Suku, Kwese, Pende and Tschokwe from the lower Kwango in the north up to the upper Kwilu in the north East.<\/span> The real conditions are much more mixed (Jacques Denis: Les Yaka du Kwango, 1964)<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Yaka<\/a> \"Congo<\/a><\/p>\n

L. Felix: 100 Peoples of Zaire and their Sculpture, 1987 <\/span>p.102) sums up the section on style: Mbala figures are often confused with those of their neighbors.<\/em><\/span> Mbala figures are anecdotic, clear ‚and soaked with red tukula pigment.<\/em><\/span> The headdress gives an upright comb.<\/em><\/span><\/h4>\n

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Anecdotal?<\/em><\/span> – Sure!<\/em><\/span><\/h4>\n

It is a dignified figure with a cap and jacket, bearded, with a stately necklace, a medical cabinet, a meaningful gesture.<\/span> He is riding\u00a0 a leopard.<\/span> The small power object, which is kept in family treasures and shown on certain occasions, demonstrates in detail what it means.<\/span><\/p>\n

Mbala to be confused with neighbors?<\/em><\/span> – Sure, this time with the style of the Northern Yaka:<\/em><\/span><\/h4>\n
A\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Formal Characteristics
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\"HerremanToCure.no\"<\/a> This begins with the typical Yaka head: protruding forehead, narrow bean eyes, chief ’s cap, barrel-form ears, the style of the chin, but also the arms, which look like sausages, a to be seen in Herreman: To Cure and Protect<\/em> , ill –\u00a0 there we see corresponding cuffs too.<\/span><\/p>\n

In the north, the figures and masks ( Lukula<\/em> , ill.136 p.147) of the Yaka and Suku have veritable hooked noses with neat nasal wings and pouted or pursed mouth.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0Such a <\/span> single <\/span>example is usually not satisfying. Above all the overall impression can deceive.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Mbala<\/a><\/p>\n

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B Insignia – Symbolism<\/em><\/span><\/h4>\n

Arthur Bourgeois ( Art of Yaka and Suku, p<\/em> . VIII) shows<\/span> a suitable portrait of a land chief wearing the power insignia: beard, hat, necklace, jacket, and the hide of a leopard.
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\"Yaka<\/a><\/p>\n

Yaka -Suku, Bourgeois 1985, Tf.<\/span> VIII<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\"Mbala<\/a><\/p>\n

The necklace<\/span><\/h5>\n

The dealer quotes a proverb from the Congo<\/span> concerning the necklace<\/u> of such long teeth of respectable animals which we see on field photos again and again:<\/span><\/p>\n

„The elephant does never put down his heavy tusks.<\/em><\/span>\u00a0 That means: „To fulfill chief’s duty no matter how hard it is.<\/span><\/p>\n

Leopard:<\/span> <\/u><\/h5>\n

We see long upright ears and long tail.<\/span> Allan F. Roberts comments in Animals in African Art<\/em>\u00a0 p.166: ….<\/em><\/span> One of the most often portrayed animals in African Arts.<\/em><\/span> Leopards are often regarded as animal-others<\/em> (‚the second ego‘) of chiefs, ….<\/em><\/span> Charged with maintaining law and order.<\/em><\/span> And he quotes p.166 a Yoruba praise poem<\/em> :<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em>Gentle hunter<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

His tail plays on the ground while he crushes the skull.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Beautiful death who puts on a spotted robe when he goes to his victim.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Playful killer whose loving embrace splits the antelope’s heart.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

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\u00a0<\/em>Gesture<\/span><\/h4>\n

\"Mbala<\/a> Try it yourself out.<\/span> Do you feel the energy of the belly and that you involuntarily concentrate it?<\/span> This applies to Central African sculptures – from Bakongo to the Songye – for the navel, and even more so for a magical charge of the area.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Observations concerning construction and surface treatment<\/span><\/h4>\n

\"Mbala<\/a><\/p>\n

Except for the dramatically protruding two animal teeth, all elements are securely connected.<\/span> The construction of the lively figure is discreet.<\/span> The stability is caused by narrow ledges, which are partly disguised as hind legs of the leopard and are hidden a bit by the feet of the rider.<\/span> The space between the front legs remains free up to the rear of the tail reaching the ground.<\/span><\/p>\n

The surface was smoothed with the chisel and sanded with rough leaves.<\/span> The result is humped, as if covered with a net of irregular small surfaces.<\/span> This produces curved and rounded ridges: the hooked nose and nostrils, the long chin-beard, the almond-eye, the hat in steps, the pearls of the leopard-tooth chain, and the hands of the rider.<\/span> The long arms, all six legs and the tail form angular arches.<\/span> The important picture elements are thus embedded in a cubic-fractured surface landscape.<\/span><\/p>\n

This kind of surface treatment I have also seen in pieces of the northern Suku.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Rare?<\/em><\/span> – One might answer: Yes<\/em><\/span><\/h4>\n

The Mbala are a small people and many of their figures are not recognized as ‚theirs‘.<\/span><\/p>\n

But the number of sculptures that can not be attributed exclusively to one people is great.<\/span> And <\/span>on the other hand <\/span> the formal solutions used are widespread.<\/span> Unlike in a lottery, however, all lots win.<\/span> It is fun to turn the table and look at the mixes.<\/span> Only someone who is supposed to guarantee something to another – a gallery perhaps – gets problems, unless he and his customer have an artistic look and p<\/span>erhaps also sense of humor.<\/span><\/p>\n

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