The Zande, in outer northeastern Congo, know two very different types in their figural sculpture:
1: the larger ancestor figures (see cat. no. 93);
2: the substantially smaller, black ‘Yanda’ cult figures of the Mani secret society of the Zande people, as represented by the two present figures. These ‘Yanda figures’ are made of lightweight, soft wood. The religious and social leader of the Mani secret society, first founded in 1910, subsequently personally bestows ‘magic powers’ to these cultic figures by means of rubbing them with soot, smoke, and with a black ‘magic paste’. Their black, encrusted patina derives from this. In addition, the cult leader embellishes the ‘Yanda’ with jewellery of copper wire and glass beads. Only at this point are the ‘Yanda protective figures’ effective in the ceremonial rituals of the Mani secret society: they should protect against illness, female infertility, and witchcraft. And they should assist the men in hunting. Both of the original ‘Yanda figures’ presented here conform completely to the traditional, simplified and highly stylised forms which the Mani society of the Zande people displays: both figures have a proportionally large, semicircular head with hairstyle incised in linear fashion. Both have a nose and a mouth, as well as inlaid eyes of small glass beads (one white, the other red). The ‘Yanda figure’ with the white eyes has a short, thick body, without arms. Yet it has a round, projecting, accentuated navel decorated with red glass beads. Its hips are wide, and its short, sturdy legs stand firmly on the ground (without feet). As jewellery, the figure wears four copper rings, linked together, in each ear, a thick neckband of thin copper wire, as well as a number of strands of white, red and yellow glass beads wrapped around its body. The second ‘Yanda figure’ is even more simplified and abstract. Its body, below its thick neck, consists only of two round downward-pointing cones, seemingly pushed into each other. At the bottom the figure stands on a thick, round base plate. The figure is completely without arms and legs. Each ear is decorated with three linked metal rings as ear pendants. The right ring out of copper, the left one out of iron. On the three sections of its abstract body, this ‘Yanda’ wears two copper rings, with a strand of white glass beads at the very bottom. In conformity with the prescriptions of the Mani secret society, both ‘Yanda figures’ display a black, encrusted patina (from soot and rubbed-on ‘magic paste’), as well as obvious traces of long-term, cultic use. No appreciable damage. H: 21 cm and 22 cm. First half of the 20th century. (ME)

Provenance: French Private Collection.

Lit.: 'Die Kunst des schwarzen Afrika' by Kerchache, Paudrat, Stephan, ill. 647, 649.