Anthropomorphic figure.

Sculpture of a male with a flat, embossed hairstyle on its head, a hollow, oval face and elevated nose, narrow eyes, a thin, cut mouth, subtle ears and a slender body with hands on the stomach. The various parts of the body are painted with a whitish kaolin mixture. These elements all set it apart from primitive art sculptures.

The Mbole are a group of around 150,000 people who live in the Congo, to the south of Kisanghani (previously Stanleyville), in forestlands that extend out to the west of the River Lomami, around the city of Opala.Their sculptures are rare because they were discovered relatively late. They have only been displayed in the West since the start of the ‘50s.Their sizes vary from 30cm to 100cm. These works usually contain a body divided into three parts: a head covered with a hat, a concave, oval-shaped face (which is always painted in white, the colour of death); a torso with drooping shoulders and arms detached from the body, resting on the stomach; extended legs showing dangling feet, as we can see in this sculpture.The slender style tends to favour the depiction of organs of the body cut to sharp edges.Mbole sculptures were made for members of the “Lilwa” secret society.They represent images (Ofika) of wrongdoers sentenced to hanging, the punishment for members of the sect who revealed confidential secrets.The images of those who had been hanged, through the statues, emerged at dances during gatherings and assemblies. Their vital strength guaranteed members of the “Lilwa” secret society security that members of the community would not misbehave.They depict an individual in the position the body assumes after being hanged. The body is relaxed, the shoulders folder, and arms extended from the chest, and the legs dangling.