Yaka (Bayaka), Democratic Republic of the Congo

Chief’s stool. The Kwango River area (southwest of the Democratic Republic of the Congo) is the home of the highly artistic Yaka people. They believe in the creator who inhabits the sky and is responsible for life, death, and all unanswerable questions. There are no religious practices that actively pay homage to this god. Instead, religious celebrations focus on honoring the elders and ancestors. Divination is of prime importance to the Yaka, and the powers of a medicine person are measured by the ability to discern the cause of illness. The arts of the Yaka numbering about 300,000 are very much alive today. The Yaka give an aesthetic touch to almost all everyday objects. The chief’s stools supported by the woman figure are intended for different ceremonies dedicated to honor the elders and ancestors.

Material:  wood

Size:  H. 14”, Diameter 7 ½”

Price: $225 + $37 (S&H)            [#K2Y9O823]