The Eastern Bembe (also called Babembe or Wabembe) live in eastern Congo, northwest of Lake Tanganyika. Their ‘Kalunga’ sculptures represent a certain spirit of the bush who is a facilitator in hunting and also plays a role in the ancestor cult. The present ‘Kalunga’ figure showcases the style of the Eastern Bembe. Carved in lightweight, light-coloured wood and coloured dark brown. Both faces of the head of Janus are concave and inwardly cupped. The round foregrounded eyes are set below a four-spiked relief that forms the forehead. Both Janus faces have a vertical ridge in the middle (in lieu of a nose) and each — a triangular mouth articulated in depth. Originally, there were four small horns on top of the Janus head (one of which now missing). Supporting the head underneath is an upwards-tapering decagonal plinth. Crafted from a single piece of wood. A very old ritual object of the Eastern Bembe, with patina and some age damage: a missing horn (an early loss), tears (possibly due to previous exposure to fire) and chipped edges. H: 31 cm. About 1900 or earlier. (ME)

Provenance: Belgian Private Collection.

Lit.: '100 Peoples of Zaire and their Sculpture' by Marc L. Felix, p. 11, ill. 1; 'Encyclopedia of African Art and Culture' by K.-F. Schädler, ill. p. 91, 92.