Images(3)

Ancestor Figure (singiti)

Artist Hemba artist

Dateearly–mid 20th century

MediumWood and cloth

Dimensions23 1/4 x 6 1/2 x 7 3/4 in. (59.1 x 16.5 x 19.7 cm)

ClassificationsSculpture

Credit LineGift of Lee and Dona Bronson

Object numberG.76.19.8

On View

Not on view

Label TextHemba chiefs sometimes commissioned ancestor figures used to honor and remember departed leaders. Artists fulfilling these commissions used idealized features including the elaborate hairstyle, grooved well-kept beard, almond eyes, pointed shoulders, abstracted hands, and extended abdomen. These idealized elements come together to capture the essence of a specific individual. Although this figure’s name has been lost in the collecting process, family members honoring it would have carefully recalled their ancestor’s lineage and actions.

The emphasis on the head and on the abdomen remind viewers of two important functions of these sculptures. The enlarged head acknowledges this part of the body as the site of knowledge. Wisdom is an essential characteristic of an excellent leader. The stylized abdomen, with hands delicately resting upon it, calls attention to the belly button. This gesture reminds viewers of the umbilical cord, a literal and symbolic connection between the leader and his lineage.Published ReferencesLiving in Our World: Africa, Asia, and Pacific Realm (textbook) (Raleigh: North Carolina State University, 1998), illus. (color) 155.

Exhibition HistoryRaleigh, NC, North Carolina Museum of Art, “Recent Acquisitions,” September 25-October 23, 1977.
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