Hemba ‘Singiti’ ancestor figure, D.R.Congo, h. 65cm
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We recognize in the morphological features of this sculpture those of the Muhona and Nkuvu workshops, to the northwest of the Honga and Niembo styles. The Muhona and Nkuvu styles are located between the Luika in the North and the Congo River in the West. They are also easily recognizable by the more angular shapes of the face, polygonal or triangular. It is in this region that we were able to locate the Buli style which combines in a new synthesis the Hemba, Luba and Kusu influences. It is therefore not surprising that in the object studied there already appear morphological features (general shape of the face, line of the hair, ocular cavities close to the nasal bridge, almond-shaped eyes, slightly overhanging mouth, etc.) which are close to Kusu and even Songye influences.
The effigy fits perfectly into the Muhona and Nkuvu styles and also reflects relationships with the nucleal zone of the great statuary. Indeed, the type of hairstyle must be compared to the fashions that we encountered in villages like Ilunga in Honga country. The Honga styles, let us remember, are bordering on those of the Muhona/Nkuvu. We can therefore locate this workshop in the vicinity of Sola, perhaps in the direction of Nonga.
This workshop can be dated to the end of the 19th or the beginning of the 20th century.
Expertise by Mr François Neyt, June 30th 1989