KONGO: Power and Majesty at the MET

The incredible collection of woven cloths, sculptures and ivory carvings combine to make for a fascinating and simultaneously, cringe worthy exhibit.  Exhilirating for the intricate and beautiful woven cloths and arresting carved figures dating back to the 15th C and disparaging for impending colonialism and slave trade that will soon thread its hideousness into the region.  The carved elephant tusks, Oliphants, are exquisite for their intricate designs but cannot be viewed without concern for the impending extinction of these majestic animals.  More egregious is the suffering inflicted by the slave trade industry which took hold of the Kongo territories by the mid 17thC.  By the mid 19thC, 1/3 of the population were enslaved to the Americas.  Having stated the heinous past coerced onto Central Africa, there is much to be awed by in this show.  Again, the early woven cloths are to be admired for the skill, design & craftsmanship required.  Note the 12 paneled cloth that was stitched together that was created sometime between the 16th-17thC.  The show contains numerous wood carvings & sculptures of women breast feeding. This may represent fertility and aspirations for future generations.  The markings on the backs of the women are indicative of the lacerations made on the backs of females as seen in a neraby photo.  Powerful in form but futile for their intent are the 15 large wood sculptures embedded with numerous sharp objects known as "Mangaaka."  Their purpose was to thwart off invading enemies.  There are 15 on view out of the 20 known to exist.  The majesty of this show at the MET is not to be missed but it is not to be viewed without reflecting on the devastation inflicted on central Africa.  I suggest walking back through the exhibit for the many objects that may have been overlooked.