A Rare Sikasingo Female Figure, Democratic Republic of the Congo

The Sikasingo live in a border region surrounded by the Bembe, eastern Lega, Boyo, Bangubangu, and southern Binja. Sikasingo sculpture shares many aspects with Bembe and Boyo works, but also Luba, Hemba, Tabwa, and Tumbwe influence can be observed (Cf. Biebuyck 1981: 10 et seq.). The coiffure of the female figure from The Stanoff collection, once topping the staff of an important person and inserted into a long metal spike, reveals strong Tabwa influence. Cf. Neyt (in Maurer and Roberts 1985: 73, figs. III 38 and 39) for figures with related hairstyles and Biebuyck (1982: figs. 48-50) for other Sikasingo staffs.