Amongst the Bongo in South Sudan there are two different types of steles which are set up on graves. There is a type of mostly smaller grave stakes with a highly abstract head and a row of five carved ‘discs’ forming the body (the present grave stele is one of these). There is also, amongst the Bongo, a second, mostly larger and rarer form of whole-figure, naturalistic grave sculptures (see cat. no. 3). The present grave stele of the Bongo, called 'Föri', consists of very hard, light-coloured wood. It is carved from a single tree branch, which grew in a slightly S-form shape. The head of the grave stake is heavily stylised. It wears a flat plaited hairstyle, represented in numerous stripes towards the back. On top of the head is a hole caused by weathering (by rain), as these grave stakes stand on the graves of the Bongo for many years outdoors. The face of the stele is equally extremely stylised. Both ears are displaced far towards the front into the face (a frequent occurrence on this type of grave marker). The eyes are small, round and deep-set. The chin is pointed. Nose and mouth are lacking. Below the head begins a series of 13 round ‘discs’ carved into the wood. These discs should indicate - according to the relevant scholarly literature - the number of ‘merit feasts’ that the deceased had hosted for the entire Bongo community, after he as a hunter had killed big game (elephant, buffalo, leopard etc.). The heads which are also carved together out of one piece should also indicate that the deceased had also killed enemies from other tribes. An interesting object, with patina and small areas of damage caused by age and weathering: small cracks, breaks, and other traces of weathering. H: 124 cm. Between c. 1900 and the early 20th century. (ME)

Provenance: Belgian Private Collection.

Lit.: ‘Tribal Art Magazin’ 1999/2000, p. 82, text and photos, 'The Tribal Art of Africa' by Jean-Baptiste Bacquart, p. 199, fig. 8.