Bwanga bwa bwimpe (female power figure)
Luluwa artist and mpaka manga (ritual specialist)
Not on view
Mupaki wa manga (plural) deploy power objects to contain and control otherworldly forces. Creation of such complex forms resulted from a close collaboration between a master sculptor and a healer, the latter completing the object with the addition of bishimba (mineral, vegetal, animal, and human products imbued with supernatural power). Such instruments range from gourds to animal horns to carved figures, each with its own name defined by specific responsibilities and influence. Bwanga bwa cibola were deployed to ensure a successful pregnancy and safe delivery, while bwanga bwa bwimpe served more broadly as protection against sorcery and evil. Both feature ornate patterns inscribed on the body as signs of moral and aesthetic beauty.
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