Mbole people
They crossed this river upstream from the point where the Lomami joins the Congo, near present-day Basoko, and then moved south to their present location.
[6] The Lomami Company forced the Mbole to collect large amounts of rubber.
They vividly described their view of the effect of this work with the phrase wando wo limolo, meaning "tax-caused loss of weight".
[2] The Mbole women grow manioc, bananas and rice and raise ducks, chickens and goats.
Villages are headed by a chief who has reached a senior position in the Lilwa society, which educates young men and some women and conducts initiation ceremonies.
[4] The Mbole practice metal-work, wood-work, wicker-work, weaving of raffia, and carving of ivory.
Items that are made out of wood consist of statues, masks, stools, shields, and musical instruments such as drums.
Mbole wooden carvings often represent these individuals with sunken faces, concave torsos and ropes around their necks.
When an Isoya dies he is buried in a tree and his house is left empty as a reminder that he is still present in the community.
The Mbole make wooden figures that are used in healing ceremonies or that represent ancestors.
They believe that witchcraft can be found in a specific organ called liloka which enables a person to kill or do harm.
People protect themselves from witches by mixing the crushed bark from a tree along with other ingredients into a horn that is either hung or buried in front of a residence.
Initiation into the likomela class begins when a young male is considered socially mature.
[2] Initiation takes place in liala li kumi which is a location outside of the village, inside of the forest, and near a river.
When the candidates enter liala li kumi they must go through several tortures which could include things such as whippings or beatings, and getting pepper on their bodies.
Once they have endured this they are led to the top of a termite mound where they are given a banana stalk with the hole in the center and told it is a woman they are to sleep with.
After initiation, new members stay in the liala li kumi for two weeks where they are taught customs in the form of stories.
They focus on ideas that are central to lilwa society such as not killing without reason, not taking another man's wife, not to steal, respect for tradition and elders, and the importance of keeping secrets of lilwa and the punishment that would be inflicted on traitors.
In order to reach this position one must give great offerings to officiates such as chicken, goats, and smoked meat that is compensation for ritual services.
After the daughter has passed through initiation rites she has earned the title of lumongo and is considered a male.
At this point the wilangi gives the lumongo red and white powder to be used for skincare, leopard teeth to be worn as a necklace, a staff that represents male genitals and her status as a male, and a female servant called an opika that assists her in trips to lilwa rites.
The first group consists of the most detailed figures and they have a large semicircle headdress with an upright ridge that runs across the top of the head.
The fourth category is made up of figures that do not conform to the rest of Mbole work.
