'Maternity Figure' from the Yombe People

Short Research Paper on AMAM Object
‘Maternity Figure’ from the Yombe People
The ‘Maternity figure’ was popular among the Yombe people due to the cultural meaning that was attached to the object. There had been several productions of these objects in the early 19th century which included a mother and a child in either sitting or standing positions. The objects had been found in shrines which pointed to their use for religious practices. The description of the maternity figure under analysis portrays a mother holding a child on her left hand while holding a staff with her right hand. She is adorned with traditional costumes that includes a hat that covers her head, a necklace that appears to be made from beads, hand bracelets, and a costume attire covering her lower side of the body. Her upper part of the body is bare, and she has a strap that is holding to the baby wrapped on her left side. The maternity figures were believed to be used for religious practices and also conveyed a sociological narrative for the Yombe people.[Naoum, Alain. Phemba the nurturing mother in Yombe society: A journey through feminine symbolism.]
Artist/Maker: Yombe people, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Date: Late 19th–early 20th century
Medium: Wood
Dimensions: Overall: 10 1/4 × 3 × 3 3/4 in. (26 × 7.6 × 9.5 cm)
Credit Line: Gift in honor of Alexandra Gould (OC 2011)
Object Number: 2011.26.46
Source: Allen Memorial Art Museum
The object was made by the Yombe people who were part of the ancient Kongo Kingdom which was discovered by the Portuguese explorers in the 15th century. The Kongo Kingdom was situated in the present-day Republic of Congo where the Yombe people lived alongside other tribes. The maternity figures in Yombe society played both a spiritual and cultural role. The spiritual aspect of the figure is founded on the fact that most of them were discovered in shrines where Yombe people offered their prayers and sacrifices. There is a record indicating that that one of the ‘maternity figure’ objects by the Yombe people was used by a powerful male diviner as a source for his powers. It is also believed that the ’maternity figure’ by the Yombe people was used for spirituality when dealing with fertility and infertility in the society. Based on the history of the Yombe people, during the transatlantic slave trade that occurred between 1619 and 1860s, majority of the children were shipped to Europe and America. Therefore, to replace the population that had been taken, fertility and infertility became an issue of concern for the Yombe people. The ‘maternity figures’ were used in performing various religious practices that were aimed at promoting fertility in the Yombe society. On the other hand, the ‘maternity figure’ was used for sociological purposes where it represented women as important figures in society due to their role in allowing the clan to continue existing and as a foundation for the family. Being a matriarchal society, women were important and respected in the Yombe culture, thus the numerous ‘maternity figures’ that celebrated their roles in society as nurturing mothers and important members in society.[Theresa Leininger-Miller, exhibition review of “Kongo Across the Waters,” Nineteenth-Century Art Worldwide 14, no. 3] [Naoum, Alain. Phemba the nurturing mother in Yombe society: A journey through feminine symbolism.] [Theresa Leininger-Miller, exhibition review of “Kongo Across the Waters,” Nineteenth-Century Art Worldwide 14, no. 3] [Smithsonian National Museum of African Art. Female Figure with Child.]
A close analysis of the ‘maternity figure’ will identify various cultural elements that were important for the Yombe people. Marriage and family were important aspects among the Yombe people and there were rituals and various objects used for the ceremonies. Some of the objects used included jewelry which were given to the women including necklaces and bracelets. In the ‘maternity figure’ under analysis, the female figure is wearing necklace and a bracelet which are a cultural representation associated with marriage and family. The bracelets are called lunga, and are normally adorned the ‘maternity figures’ from the Yombe society. The round hats worn by the female figures were part of cultural objects used by the Yombe people. Body markings were common among the Yombe people especially in the females and this is depicted in the ‘maternity figure’. The body marks were used for aesthetic purposes and also carried specific cultural message. There are body markings visible in the ‘maternity figure’ between the chest and her navel. Teeth were also removed or carved as part of a cultural practice and also for beauty. In the ‘maternity figure’ the teeth can be seen to be carved and pointed, which was part of the Yombe cultural practices. Therefore, the objects such as the necklace, bracelet, the hat, and the body markings on the ‘maternity figure’ are cultural representation of the Yombe people.[Naoum, Alain. Phemba...