TEKE, Democratic Republic of Congo. Hardwood, brown patina, cowries. Statue depicting a standing male figure, his arms short and at right angles to his body. His powerful neck is surmounted by a head with an "Imwu" hairstyle obtained by deforming the scalp, a prerogative of the noble classes (see R. Lehuard). The face, with its trapezoidal beard, is decorated with tight vertical scarification marks, the eyes are materialised by cowrie shells, and the empty belly cavity was intended to contain the Bilongo (magic charge), charged by the "Nga'a" who is the magico-religious specialist. 1st half of the 20th century. Height: 43 cm. Restorations (feet).