An ancient male statuette with an abdominal cavity that once held a "charge". Another miniature sculpture around his neck represents either a hand drum called n-koku, an instrument dedicated exclusively to divination and specific to the diviner ngaanga ngoombu, or a hunter's charm, or another charm of the same shape called baana maphasa, protecting against syncope and epilepsy. See: pp. 96-117 in Art of The Yaka and Suku, Bourgeois, 1984 Yaka, Democratic Republic of the Congo 19th or early 20th century Wood, nails, remnants of animal skin, braided fiber cord and copper wire, necklace of flat beads and animal teeth, remnants of old polychromy, legs grated in places, otherwise very fine old patina. H. 36.5 cm Provenance : Michèle Bavoillot Collection (Charles Meur's wife), Brussels Monsieur V. Collection, Brussels