The World of Songye

The originality of The World of Songye lies in the collaborative work that brought together 17 authors with varied experience and skills. This multifaceted study of the art and culture of this Central African population will henceforth be a reference work.

These three richly illustrated volumes offer readers a new perspective. Whilst the pages feature numerous masterpieces of Songye art—statues, masks, ornaments, accessories and weapons—many other subjects are also explored: the nature-culture relationship, which is a veritable breeding ground for artists’ creativity, styles, master hands, aesthetics, symbolism, the sacred nature and functions of power objects and rituals, the context in which certain pieces were collected and the influence of Songye works on modern and contemporary art, in particular on Jean-Michel Basquiat.

This essential work also includes many field photographs and magnificent previously unpub­lished photographs, opening the doors of various museum and private collections to readers.