Product Description
Drawing upon diverse sources, including Daniel P. Biebuyckís seminal fieldwork of the 1950s, Elisabeth Cameron investigates the culture and the art of the Lega peoples of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Among the Lega, art is only created for and used by the Bwami Society. Bwami is a complex organization consisting of multiple levels, and it forms an essential component of the political, social, and religious structure of the Lega.

Within Bwami, artworks are used in conjunction with proverbs, anecdotes, and performances to form complex layered metaphors and to serve as mnemonic devices. As initiates move up through the ranks of the Bwami Society, a variety of different artworks assist them in recalling a vast corpus of complex aphorisms. The many beautiful examples of Lega artworks illustrated in this volume are drawn primarily from the Jay T. Last collection and include masks, animals, human forms, miniature tools, and spoons. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

praise
This is a great book from a great writer. Elisabeth Cameron writes in a nice personal style. Her books (see also Isnt She a Doll) are an excellent mix between art and antropology. Throughout both books there are good pictures of art objects in use. Loved both books.

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