Lega Tribal Art

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Lega Tribal Art: Judgement

Lega Tribal Art: Judgement

Price:

$185.00

SKU:

Item 591

Weight:

6.00 LBS

Shipping:

$20.00 (Fixed shipping cost)

Maximum Purchase:

1 unit(s)

Product Description

You must be asking yourself "what is this?" Well if you were in the Congo and a member of the Lega people, you wouldn't be asking, you would probably be running or praying you wouldn't be called upon! For whenever there is a serious problem between two individuals, a rivalry, a conflict or when a case of guilt or innocence must be determined or deciding who is a thief or murderer, this piece is used a judge and jury! It is also used for matters that concern the entire tribe such as to go to war or to not to go to war, either way when a decision must be made and when the village elders, mainly from the Bwami sect can not come to a unified conclusion then this device is pulled out to decide for them. The outcome is often fatal for the guilty party. The structure before you is a wooden two piece fair. The top section features a Lega ancestor face with long balancing arm and huge hands all coming down too a tiny point at the bottom which sits on the top of the bottom section. The lower portion wooden also, has an ancestor figure carved at one end and a representation of a famous Lega mask on the other. At the top is a long wooden protrusion on which the top point rests. Before the judgement is passed, organic material is placed on both of the hands. One substance will denote guilt or signify yes and the other will signal the opposite view point such as guilty or no. After this special material is applied the top piece is set upon the lower as shown in the photo. The party or parties will stand or sit on opposite sides of the device awaiting their fates. A tribal elder will then twirl the top piece in place, let it go and watch where the hands stop. Life or death? Guilty or not. This is not a game to the Lega!!

Lega families still use pieces such as these but with less drastic results! For us this is a fantastic conversation piece but who knows...Maybe the Lega ancestors can help you make a serious decision too!

Dimensions: The top extends 13 inches downward and is 16 inches across the span from hand to hand. The bottom base is 12 inches tall x 7 inches from the widest point

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*Fixed shipping price for domestic orders only*