KOTA bwitti reliquary in wood and brass/copper - Bakota - Gabon Finishes: Country: Gabon Material: Beautiful patina wood, copper or brass Period: undetermined Height: 57.5 cm / 23.22 in Width: 19.5 cm / 7.48 in Weight: 1,700 kg / 59.96 oz The Kota or Bakota live in eastern Gabon, and are renowned for their reliquaries This type of reliquaries were entrusted to clan leaders who kept them hidden, sometimes harnessing the power of the relics for the benefit of the clan. When serious crises affected the village, the chiefs gathered their reliquaries in order to perform rites. This cult was known as bwiti by the Mahongwé and their neighbors, for whom the guardians constituted the “faces” of the bwété. Each image had its name, its specific powers. During the clan's great bwetti ceremonies in which only the initiates participated, the reliquaries were brought out into the open. “Bwiti is an initiation rite originating from the Mitsogo and Gapinzi populations of central Gabon. My store: https://www.etsy.com/shop/Frenchvintageboheme/ ● Standard delivery is via relay point (UPS, Chronopost relay or Mondial Relay) for the following countries: FRANCE, BELGIUM and LUXEMBOURG COLISSIMO OPTION: you have the option of being delivered to your home by choosing the colissimo option during payment International shipping with tracking number. Careful packaging.