Kongo People, Yombe, DR Congo

Mfemba or Phemba is the name given to this mother and child statue made by the Yombe people of the DR Congo. Mfemba statues represent the eternal mother and the founding of the mother of the tribe. They are also associated with maternity groups and fertility rites, and are therefore believed to enhance fertility.  The Yombe people are a matrilineal society, meaning women play an important role in the tribe.  Power and inheritance follow the mother's line rather than the father's as in Western societies.

Dimensions: 12.5 X 5 X 5 inches