Standing female figure "mukuya"

wood, base

Idealized depictiion of a female ancestor/ power figure.

The most striking feature of Bembe statuettes is their lengthened body which is richly decorated with tattoos, marking the identity of the depicted person as well as her social rank. Another characteristic is, that mostly the figures have their magical charges in the anus, which is why Fagg called them "krypto fetiches".

The figurines were kept in the houses of lineage leaders were they were put on a shrine/altar. At certain times they were anointed with ritually important liquids and "tukula" and they received offerings of beverages and food and animals were killed in their favour.

Ritual specialists or lineage leaders will enter in communication with the ancestors through the intermediary of the figurines so as to ask protection, general well-being or specific favours..