This shrine was brought to France by Charles-Vital Roche, the colonial officer in charge of the government's headquarters at N'Ghimi (Franceville), who also provided support for the third West African expedition (1883–86). Roche gave the work to the newly established state institution of ethnography in 1897. The accompanying documentation identified it as an "M'boueti" or "mboumba bwete" ancestor and as the "symbolic representation" of the founder of a lineage guarding over his descendants. The ensemble is exceptionally rare in its completeness; the figurative element remains integrated with its original sacra, both held within their basketry receptacle.