Beembe tribe (Kongo)
The Beembe (also Bembe, Babembe, Babeembe) are a Bantu people living in southern Congo-Brazzaville, precisely in Bouenza and in the cities of Brazzaville, Dolisie, and Pointe-Noire.
The Beembe have some similar customs to the Kongo, which is what makes them a subgroup, but their art is what separates them apart.
It is not clear when the Beembe separated from the Kongo but oral tradition suggests that it was some time around the eight century.
The Beembe also have subgroups within it such as the Bisi-Nseke, Minkegue, Mmsumbu (Bambumbu), the Mongo, and the Musitu.
The ancestors had close ties with the living and received offerings through the “priest”, who made appeals to statuettes, the kitebi or bimbi, consecrated by the diviner.
The ancestor worship among the Bembe is older, though, and precedes the use of magic statues, nkisi, by the sorcerers.
Their bodies would be shrouded and displayed within a textile shrine and a celebration known as Kitu, which includes song dance, and feasting is held in honor of the newly deceased.
[4]: 312 These prayers are about family prosperity, disease, livestock, or troubles at home[6]: 50 A diviner can tell the person what the resentments are within the village that are causing the problem.
[6]: 50 Similar to most people within the Congo region, the Beembe decorate their bodies with scarification.
Since colonization the Bembe learned to make a new type of rattle using tin cans which are called ntengele.
This staff-rattle was made of a staff about an average man height with cartridge case rattles attached to it.
[5]: 49 The Beembe have a rich artistic practice that ties back to other Kongo Groups, through their figures.
The hands of male sculptures are typically turned toward one another and are carrying implements that represent the ancestor's profession in life.
[9]: 184 Beembe sculptures vary from the Kongo nikisi in a couple different ways such as where the ancestor goes within the figure.
[8][11]: 310 Once the ancestor had been placed inside of the Muzidi, the cavity is sealed with either a wooden stoop or a piece of cloth to keep the spirit within the carving.
The textiles used to wrap these figures has changed over time; originally, it was local raffia cloth which was dyed with red tukula dye.
The first carved wood Babemebe statuette to be exhibited in the Musee de l'Hommee in Paris was in 1932 and was presented by geologist Victor Babet.
[2]: 60–64 The figurines are difficult to date because objects that are old or no longer of any use are thrown-out because they are seen as dangerous as they once housed a spirit and could come back to life.
