The name of this tribe is also spelled "Taabwa", and also called "Rungu" in some sources. The Tabwa people live mainly on the southwestern shores of Lake Tanganyika, on the high grassy plateaus of the Marungu massif in extreme southeastern area of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly called Zaire). Some also live in northeastern part of Zambia and along the Luapula River. Tabwa speak a Bantu language closely related to those of neighbouring Bemba of Zambia and the Luba of Congo. During the 19th century, the ivory trade brought wealth to the region and Tabwa people gained their independence from their Luba rulers. Today, they number 200,000. Traditionally, Tabwa people made their living from hunting and smelting to make iron object. Today many are subsistence farmers, cultivating millet, manioc, cassava, beans, and corn, but they live primarily off fishing and hunting. The Tabwa worshipped ancestors, whose statues were the property of the lineage chiefs and sorcerers; these carried “medications” in their ears or in small cavities at the top of their heads. The Tabwa traditionally were animists who worshipped the spirits of ancestors and of nature, who lived in trees and rocks. Much of their art resembles the Luba, with the emphasis and significance of female figures, the carved out and protruding mouth and eyes and the geometric emblems of body scarification denoting power and importance. The Tabwa lineage elders kept various wooden images to represent and honor deceased chiefs of power, ancestor spirits and great healers. Traditionally, it was the function of the large ancestor figures to signify and perhaps validate the power of the chiefs. Other statuettes were used for divination. The Tabwa also made twin figures that could be both dangerous and bearers of good luck. Often, the diviner was a sculptor as well and after a dream of his own or after being told of a special dream, he would create a new statue. Special attention was paid to scarifications, which embellish the body and recall social values. Many of the female figurines have geometric scarification that signify the coming of the new moon, essential to Tabwa world view, whose return would be celebrated each month with a huge festival. Free Shipping in Continental US! |