NYAMWEZI & ZIGWA FIGURES, Tanzania

NYAMWEZI
Couple 16
9.75 - 10.75" high
$1200


 

 NYAMWEZI
Figure 3
28" high
$400 

  ZIGWA
Figure 5
22.5" high
$400

 NYAMWEZI
Figure 6
21" high
$400

ZIGWA
Figure 8
14.5" high
$400


 NYAMWEZI
Figure 9
20" high
$300

 

 NYAMWEZI
Figure 10
23" high
$300

 NYAMWEZI
Figure 4
21" high
$400

 

NYAMWEZI
Figure 14
24" high
$200

 

  NYAMWEZI
Figure 15
24" high
$200

The figures below have been sold and are left here for educational and research purposes.

 

ZIGWA
Figure 1
32" high
SOLD

  NYAMWEZI
Figure 2
27.5" high
SOLD

 NYAMWEZI
Figure 11
20.5" high
SOLD

ZIGWA
Figure 7
15" high
SOLD


 NYAMWEZI
Figure 12
24" high
SOLD
 

 

 NYAMWEZI
Figure 13
24.5" high
SOLD

Photographs © Tim Hamill

NYAMWEZI & ZIGWA FIGURES, Tanzania

In spite of their appearance and patina, we do not believe that these figures show signs of tribal use.

The name Nyamwezi means "people from the moon" in Swahili. It is usually taken to be a reference to their homeland in northwest central Tanzania, given to them by the people from the coastal regions of the country. Their elongated and often quite elegant little figures may be partially or completely wrapped with leather bands or cloth.

The Zigwa are from northeastern Tanzania. In addition to being wrapped in cloth, their figures are frequently bound with cords.

The large puppets made by the Sukuma people of Tanzania display clear aesthetic similarities to the figures of these two groups.

GO TO SUKUMA PUPPETS PAGE

GO TO STILL STANDING EXHIBITION PAGE

GO TO AFRICAN FIGURES PAGE

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