Ancient African Statue - Tribal Art - Fetish, Kusu Or Woyo Ritual Figure - Drc / Zaire

First half of the 20th century Democratic Republic of Congo / Zaire Private collection - France, collected in Central Africa between 1945 and 1955 This ritual statue, from the traditions of the Kusu or Woyo peoples, was used in spiritual and ceremonial practices. It played a role in protection, fertility and the transmission of knowledge, in connection with ancestors and initiation rites. Among the Kusu, these figures were kept by spiritual leaders and diviners and served as intermediaries with the invisible world. They accompanied the major stages of social life and rites of passage. The Woyo, for their part, used ritual statues in a family and clan setting to guarantee protection and ensure spiritual balance. A sacred object with proven ritual uses Handled during ceremonies, this statue has a deep patina and traces of ancient applications of ritual substances. These figures were anointed with oils and pigments, placed on altars or used during divinations and initiations. Stylistic and ethnographic characteristics • Large head with expressive features, embodying a spiritual presence. • Half-closed eyes, symbolizing the connection with ancestors and the invisible world. • Mouth sketching a slight smile, reinforcing the mystical aura of the figure. • Finely sculpted hairstyle in ridges, reminiscent of traditional hair styles. • Upright posture and arms pressed against the abdomen, a sign of spiritual transmission. • Marked breasts, emphasizing a female representation linked to motherhood and protection. • Traces of application of ritual substances, confirming cult use. Condition and conservation • Deep patina of use, testifying to long ritual handling. • Natural cracks in the wood, consistent with its antiquity. • Presence of ritual marks, confirming its spiritual role. Dimensions Height: 36 cm Sold without base. (Please note: the statue does not stand on its own.) Shipping via DHL Express only