1974.Sc.49 Four-faced half figure (Sakimatwematwe)

Sakimatwematwe, or “many heads” figures, visualize a Lega saying: “Many-Heads who has seen an elephant on the other side of the river.” This saying can be interpreted to mean that high-level members of Bwami—the governing association of the decentralized Lega—see in many directions and are wise and fair-minded.

This figure’s neck rests on a stool with legs bending outward at an angle. Its owner would have kept the stool sanded and oiled to maintain a smooth and shiny appearance. The spaces between the legs of the stool mean that every man has the potential to achieve success in Bwami, while the shiny surface refers to Bwami bringing light (knowledge) to people.

Roslyn A. Walker, Label text, Arts of Africa, 2015.

By 1958: Withofs Collection, Brussels [1]

By 1966: Schindler Collection, New York [2]

1974: Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, The Gustave and Franyo Schindler Collection of African Sculpture, gift of the McDermott Foundation in honor of Eugene McDermott [3]

[1] Art in the Congo. Translated from the French and edited by Josef Kadijk. Antwerp: Brussels Universal Exhibition, 1958, ill. 33.

[2] Exhibited at Museum of Primitive Art in the exhibition "Masks and Sculptures from the Collection of Gustave and Franyo Schindler," 1966: cat. no.73.

[3] The name of the Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, founded in 1933, was changed to the Dallas Museum of Art in 1983.

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