Reliquary - Bakota - Gabon (No Reserve Price)
Original Bakota reliquary from Gabon in very good general condition.
The Kota (Bakota) left the bodies of their dead exposed to the elements in the forest. They began to bury their chiefs, then to exhume their bones to put in bark boxes or baskets called Bwétè, on which a statue was placed. Such statues called "Kota Reliquary Keeper" were entrusted to clan leaders who kept them hidden, sometimes harnessing the power of the relics for the benefit of the clan.
When serious crises affected the village (a village bringing together several clans) the chiefs collected their reliquary in order to perform rites. This cult was known under the name BWITI by the MAHONGRUÈ and their neighbors for whom the Guardians constituted the "faces" of Bwétè. Beautiful golden look.
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Original Bakota reliquary from Gabon in very good general condition.
The Kota (Bakota) left the bodies of their dead exposed to the elements in the forest. They began to bury their chiefs, then to exhume their bones to put in bark boxes or baskets called Bwétè, on which a statue was placed. Such statues called "Kota Reliquary Keeper" were entrusted to clan leaders who kept them hidden, sometimes harnessing the power of the relics for the benefit of the clan.
When serious crises affected the village (a village bringing together several clans) the chiefs collected their reliquary in order to perform rites. This cult was known under the name BWITI by the MAHONGRUÈ and their neighbors for whom the Guardians constituted the "faces" of Bwétè. Beautiful golden look.
Sale price
Time, Location
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