Republic Of Congo, Ntadi/bitumba Bakongo Funeral Statuette, Seated Figure In Tailor, African Tribal Art

Beautiful Ntadi/Bitumba funerary statuette depicting a character seated cross-legged.
Democratic Republic of Congo in Amphilobic Shale; erosions of seniority.
These sculpted stone statuettes are known to be Mintadi (Ntadi in the singular), and more precisely today, Bitumba, which could be translated as "guardian". True doubles of living characters, the Bitumba play a protective role.

Karl Laman's 1936 definition of "bitumba" is likeness, image, statue, bust. But according to Raoul Lehuard, these sculptures were certainly not designed to serve solely as tomb figures.
These stones were sometimes kept by the chief in the discreet place where he maintained the magical forces and religious testimonies of the parental group for which he was responsible.
His successor inherited them, and it was only on the death of the last "sacred custodian" that these statues were placed on his grave. Among other peoples of the Middle Congo, the statuary, almost always made of wood and owned by the head of the family, was destroyed by fire or buried with the deceased. These statues were therefore not intended to be used solely as funerary sculptures, although some may have been, but they systematically became so on the death of their last custodian."
Alain Lecomte, based on the book by Raoul Lehuard: Art Bakongo, la statuaire en pierre sculptée.
Bibliography: “Bakongo art, sculpted stone statuary” R. LEHUARD.

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