id: 286015 accession number: 2016.33 share license status: CC0 url: https://clevelandart.org/art/2016.33 updated: 2020-11-04 22:21:12.268000 Male Figure (Ofika), late 1800s or early 1900s. Central Africa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mbole people. Wood, colorant, and upholstery studs; 42.2 cm (16 5/8 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund 2016.33 title: Male Figure (Ofika) title in original language: series: series in original language: creation date: late 1800s or early 1900s creation date earliest: 1875 creation date latest: 1925 current location: 108A Sub-Saharan creditline: Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund copyright: --- culture: Central Africa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mbole people technique: Wood, colorant, and upholstery studs department: African Art collection: African Art type: Sculpture find spot: catalogue raisonne: --- CREATORS --- measurements: 42.2 cm (16 5/8 in.) state of the work: edition of the work: support materials: inscriptions: --- CURRENT EXHIBITIONS title: Recent Acquisitions opening date: 2018-03-17T04:00:00 Recent Acquisitions. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (March 17-June 7, 2018). title: African art rotation opening date: 2019-02-20T05:00:00 African art rotation. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer). --- LEGACY EXHIBITIONS * The Cleveland Museum of Art (03/17/2018-06/06/2018): "Recent Acquisitions 2014-2017" --- PROVENANCE --- fun fact: digital description: wall description: Figures such as this, known as ofika, were central to the initiation practices and the enforcement of laws among the all-male Lilwa association, a hierarchical organization that served educational, judicial, political, economic, and ritual functions among the Mbole. Meant to instill a moral code and to act as a cautionary symbol during initiation for Lilwa novices, ofika figures are believed to represent criminals who were ritually hanged for transgressions against Lilwa laws. The figure’s encrusted surface imitates how members covered their bodies with a substance made of ashes and palm oil during burial rites. --- RELATED WORKS --- CITATIONS --- IMAGES web: https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2016.33/2016.33_web.jpg print: https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2016.33/2016.33_print.jpg full: https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2016.33/2016.33_full.tif