The Bembe tribe (also known as Wa or Babembe) consists of two, geographically far apart groups: the so-called West Bembe live in the West of Africa, in the South of the Republic of the Congo (capital city: Brazzaville), in the territory of Stanley Pool (today: Malebo Pool) at the lower end of the Congo River. The East Bembe are settled, on the other hand, far away in the Southeast of the Democratic Republic of Congo (capital: Kinshasa), on Lake Tanganjika, on the borders of Tanzania and Burundi. This division of the Bembe originates from migration many years ago. West and East Bembe can be differentiated by the form and style of their art.
The present ancestor figure made from hard, brown wood is typical of the West Bembe style: on top of a long, almost cylindrical round torso and neck sits a relatively large head with goatee, cap, short nose, wide mouth and inlaid mirrored eyes. The scarification marks in relief on the abdomen, above the accentuated navel, are characteristic of Bembe figures. The freely carved, long arms of the upright sitting man rest on both thighs of the short, crossed legs.
Overall it is a stylistically perfect ancestor figure from the West Bembe with a good shiny patina. It shows no notable damage. Height: 31 cm; first half of the 20th century. (ME)

Provenance:
Tirry-Fixe Collection, Paris; Austrian Private Collection.

Lit.:
'Die Kunst des schwarzen Afrika' by Kerchache, Paudrat, Stephan, ill. 617, 620, 622; 'Encyclopedia of African Art and Culture' by K.-F. Schädler, ill. p. 89.