Yanda doll – Wood – Zande – Congo

Beautiful wooden Zande doll from DR Congo. The Zande sculpt small statuettes which measure from 10 to 30 cm, named Yanda, of an animal or human shape, they have an apotropaic role and are exhibited during the divinatory rites. The word Yanda means strength or spirit, but also refers to these figurines.

These artefacts were used by members of the Mani, a secret society, a political counter-power established by the Zandé people in the Central African Republic, which then was extended to the north of the former Zaire.

The style is refined, the bottom limbs are barely represented, whereas the head is hypertrophied. The hypertrophy of the navel would symbolise fecundity. Good condition with traces of wear and tear.

Provenance: former private collection from Germany