Very old ivory head on cylindrical bust with slightly flared foot. The head, flat at the top, identifies a face with a vaguely triangular shape, carved in the shape of a heart.
The deep crack that longitudinally crosses the right side of the face is reduced with the application of black resin that appears on the whole statuette.
It represents the common ancestor of the Balega of Shabunda, which are in seven groups. Used in Kindi ceremonies and on the death of a high ranking mwami. It belonged to mwami Ngengele of Tusisi village, Shabunda area.
From Tusisi (Shabunda).
