A miniature kalibangoma sculpture, head sculpted as a bust, in a minimalist style with particularly stylized expressive facial features. The kalibangoma are protectors, belonging in some regions to lower-level kindi (kantamba, Kyogo, Musage wa kindi) and in other regions to kanyamwa women or kalonda women (a complementary rank to the yananio rank for men). In fact, it's worth remembering that the Bwami is not a secret society, either for men or women, but more of an association, an initiation society where men and women have their respective places and acquire ranks as the Bwami initiation progresses. Note the high polish of this miniature kalibangoma, contrasting with the beautiful old tool marks still clearly visible, notably on the neck of this bust with its beautiful honey-brown patina. Lega, Democratic Republic of Congo 19th or early 20th century Ivory, very fine old patina. H. 6.4 cm Provenance : Acquired between 1956 and 1957 by Mr. V., territorial administrator in Maniema between 1952 and 1959