THE MANGBETU PEOPLE : FIGURATIVE ART

The Mangbetu are a people of the northeastern Democratic

Republic of Congo, central Africa. They are known for their

highly developed skills in art & music, & their practice of

Lipombo, a custom of skull elongation through

head binding during infancy. This practice creates striking

deformation of the skull symbolising status, beauty &

higher intelligence.

Lipombo began dying out in the 1950’s but many artforms

have captured the silhouette of the Mangbetu beautifully.

One artform that does this in particular is the Mangbetu

Bow Harp (See plate.1, 2). This harp first appeared in the

region in the late nineteenth century.

Previously non-figurative they became increasingly popular

during the early twentieth century with a carved head at the

bow end. Originally adopted from the neighbouring Azande

people to the north it’s thought Europeans encouraged the

presence of carved heads on the harp to suit their aesthetic

tastes (1). These heads often possess traditional Mangbetu

hairstyles & ornaments & sometimes included jewellery such

as an earring made from an open brass loop (See plate 2).

The ornaments that the Mangbetu used to adorned their

art & themselves were not only to enhance their beauty but

were also worn for protection, to influence the future or as

a representation of their social status.  

Another artwork that was used as a representation of

Mangbetu wealth & status was the anthropomorphic pot

(See figure 3, 4). This early twentieth century short lived

ceramic production was fuelled by Mangbetu chiefs & kings

who employed local artists to create pieces to be presented

as gifts to visitors. These pots were also collected by visiting

traders & are one of the most sought after works of the

Mangbetu today.

The Mangbetu were remarkable builders, potters & sculptors

making work as “art for arts sake”, very unique in the Congo

where fetishes & religious statues were the main source of

artistic output.  

Plate. 1 & 2. Figurative Bow Harp (Domu), 19th–20th century,

Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mangbetu peoples, wood

& hide, 52.1 x 48.3 cm (The Metropolitan Museum of Art).

Plate. 3. Anthropomorphic Pot, Democratic Republic of the

Congo. Mangbetu. (ARCHIVES MUSÉE DAPPER).

Photo: Hughes Dubois.

 Plate. 4. Anthropomorphic Pot, early 20th century. Mangbetu.

Terracotta, 40.0 x 24.0 cm. (The Brooklyn Museum).

(1).  Further reading on this subject: Unpacking Culture: Art & 

Commodity in Colonial & Postcolonial Worlds. Edited by Ruth B.

Phillips, Christopher B. Steiner.

2. Further reading on Mangbetu art:

http://www.brunoclaessens.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/

Mangbetu-Bruno-Claessens-2011.pdf