Facts about Songye People of Dr. Congo .
Sunday, October 3, 2021
Songye People can be found in Dr. Congo and they are part of the Bantu Speaking People, Songye are related to the Luba People , Nyakyusa People , Kasai People , Sungu People and Binji People.
They grow crops such as maize , sorghum , rice , yam , cassava and other crops also there are numerous mask styles associated with the Songye.The Power Objects and objects associated with divination many of their objects have been misattributed to Luba and Vice versa.
Songye is made of 35 subgroups that forms the Songye ethnic groups and traditionally they rely mostly on farming for subsistence. It is believed the rivers are associated with the late Chiefs who passed away , fishing was not practiced except on some occasions and the artistic wares of the Songye, Include pottery created or made by women , metalworking done by men were traded extensively with their neighbors.
They were recognized as a Unique craftsmen , and their products were in great demand .
In Songye Culture , The Paramount Chief is known as Yakitenge and It is said Yakitenge has advisers who are the central power in the Songye territory . It is said many of the Songye were actually quite large , were often spread and they were densely populated .
Before the arrival of the French , Buskishi was a dominant educational Society which helped Songye People to control through the use of Kifibwe masks , but It no longer functions to this degree except in the Southeastern part of the regions bordering on Luba territory .
The Songye Oral History and Historical accounts on Songye of Dr. Congo .
According to the Songye Oral History l Songye traced their Origins back to the Luba to the 16th Century and shared one ancestor known as Kongolo, It is believed that the founding forefathers of Songye emerged from the lake region in Present day Shaba Province on the south to the Luba homeland . It is believed Lomani river divided Songye territory and marks the boundary of the areas Invaded by Luba .
As a result of the geographical and political differences there emerged of 2 distinct Social Structures among the Eastern and Western Songye which have two stylistic differences in art forms . According to Jean Baptiste and Baqart’s account on Songye People of Dr. Congo , It is said during the late 16th Century, Songye migrated from the Shaba area , which is now Present day Dr. Congo formerly Zaire , and they settled on the left bank of the Lualaba river , on a Savannah and forest -covered plateau . Divided into numerous Sub-groups , 150,000.
Songye were governed by a Central Chief which is Yakitenge , whose role demands that they obey special restrictive laws such as not showing grief, not drinking in public .
A group of Songye known as Sapo Sapo settled in the Kasai province in the 19th Century to escape Islamization . Others claimed Songye waged war against their neighboring people later Songye and Luba formed an alliance and fought the Arabs in the 16th Century and they settled in the Southeast of Dr. Congo .
According to Dr. Nkamany Kamba a native Songye from Dr. Congo account , The Songye have a history before the Colonial period , and that history is part of the Consciousness of Africa . At the turn of the 19th Century , Europe started paying close attention to the continent of Africa . At the 1885 Berlin Conference , King Leopold ll a King was created and the people living within these new boundaries were subjected to Iron fist to the Belgium Monarch . The Songye People of Dr. Congo were one of many human entities in the Belgium Congo who found their live scrutinized by European Colonial Interest .
As such a European Perspective began to describe and explain the lives of the native groups and The Songye people did not escape this scruting and faced many challenges in safeguarding their way of live and Identity . In order to rescue the history and Culture of Songye People , there is needed to do describe and explain their way of life and Identity using on African Perspective .
According to Mr. Kalamu account on Songye People of Dr. Congo , the Orchesta “ Basongye” is celebrated on April 3rd deep into the Culture of Congo through rhythms of Songye music it will also might capture the people of Africa through the one song “ Musongye Mukelenge” as a reminder , Songye are believed to be found in the North Katanga , Kasai and Maniema . The Songye also known as Basongye Others believed Songye Identify themselves by a totem pole which is the leopard . This people , because of Its Egyptian Origins , already decently dressed with the port of raffia , Unlike other surrounding people.
And Songye Chief had a distinctive outfit made of leopard skin and make -up is the face of the distinguished feathers of his panther , hence the name “ Mukelenge “which means The Leopard . Mr. Kalamu quoted “ The Songye people has been ruling people , and Songye were considered to be the people who invented the first razor blade , Shave , Invented Soap and made pottery . According to some concept , It is believed Mulenege was an Unknown ancestor who it is believed Mulenge spoke a language of Black Egyptians , Kalamu quoted “ We Songye are the descendants of the Black Egyptians “.
Songye male masks , is known for distinctive exaggerated forms , are also well represented the masks or their elders embody the greatest potential and strength , It is also used for social control , political action , or solicitations of Contributors and protection , they were danced at Important events . Their Power figure Include Nkisi also known as Mankishi used to combat evil forces and sorcery . Nkisi bring good , promote fertility , success, vanquish enemies and protection from evil ones .
The works of the Craftsmen are often used within the various secret ceremonies , some of Sculpture are used to ensure their success, goodluck , birth and wealth also to protect people against diseases such as smallpox and against hostile forces as lightning. While the smaller sculptural figures of this type are kept and consulted by Individuals , larger ones were responsible for ensuring community .
Kifwebe is one of the mask a grooved pattern on the face of the mask , the white paint in the grooves symbolize peace , light and the purity of the soul. The brown tan and blue symbolize Maama nature as a positive force .
The facial elements are associated with animals for example the left oval shaped eyes appear to have the black and white stripes of a Zebra . The nose in most Instances seems to appear triangular and the mouth is always protruding and geometrically shaped , used this type of masks during ceremonies , and at the funeral processions of Important leaders or elders , It is believed when certain Individuals of the Kifwebe Society wear the mask along with the costume, raffia beard which It is said to gain Spiritual powers to cleanse evil forces . Songye are rich in mineral wealth , namely gold , diamonds and oil . According to Songye tribal elders , Unscrupulous “ faceless” men fuel most of the wars , to stake a claim on the rich minerals resources while the country is in a state of anarchy.
Another mask Include Buffalo masks with fire , Kifwebe mask represent other society , the buffalo mask also have brown patina with no strips used in a sacred hunting rituals . They also produce prestige , stools, ceremonial axes , made of Iron , Copper , decorated Interlaced patterns , neckrests , bracelets and copper adzes . In addition , It is said local rulers such as Sultanu Ya Mutu , distribute plots of land to the People of the Village and an Influential Secret Society , Bwadi Bwa Kifweba an ancient Ancestors counter balances their power . Unlike their neighbors the Luba and Songye are Patriarchal Society in which agricultural is the center of the Ceremony .
The Songye regarded wood figure as merely a shell , activated to the full power only the addition of Bishimba , the Sacred medicine composed of animal , plant , ritual and mineral substance choosen for a properties . Another Objects Include Mfondo mask , Chameleon mask , flute mask, Plant Bayiri mask , Gara or Gra Hook which all of them traced back to the 19th Century to earlier or mid 20th Century .
Their Sculptures are similar to those of the Songye , but with several differences, notably a more evolved realism , a Luluwa Influence , on the forehead the presence of a tattoo similar to the cross of the Tscohwe . According to the African Crafts market narration of the Songye mask , The Songye masks originated from what is now the Northwestern region of Dr. Congo these mask is particular the female Kifwebe or Tsifwebe mask and It is dominated by the large slanting eyes of animals . The Slanting eyes large eyes similar to that African Crocodile . The nose is almost always triangular in shape extending from the forehead and eye brows , while the mouth is always outwards and in a geometrical shape such as Square or rectangular.
These Songye masks are used in traditional ceremonies such as weddings , birth ceremony sometimes and funerals, but not anyone is allowed to wear the mask . Certain Individuals are given the authority to be the wearer of the mask and that tribal member will wear the mask along with the costume associated with the ritual or ceremony is being held one of the several Songye Legends asserts one that the high forehead and the form of mask imitate the heads of the so called Pymies the Original custodians of the land .
It is believed Songye are an Central African Bantu people living in the Southeastern part of Dr. Congo in the Kabinda district near the Lomani river they are also referred by many names such as Basengele , Songye , Basongye , Basonge , Bayembe , Kisongye , Sengele, Songe , Songhe , Wasonga and Yembe . The Songye Society is made up of 20 Independent Chiefdoms that share a principal of political organization based on the sharing of power , after a few years , the holder of a political Office gives way to his Successor , coming from another Kinship group , so that overtime the different Kinship groups that make up the Chieftaincy each access in turn to power . In Songye Concept , God is known as Elfie , although sacrifices are not made directly to him
It is said Sacrifices are made to their Ancestors as a way through Elfie but the main purpose of it is to encourage the well being of the Individual and the family . It is believed Each Village possess one of these power figures to be brought out during Ceremony . Prayer and Requests would be asked of the figure only positive forces by Elfie and Maama Nature would grant wishes for example the health of a child or a fruitful yield from the crops . The figures are admired with the horn of an Antelope, feathers from birds of prey , and peits from powerful animals . The protective amulets were often placed in the chest of the Sculpture . This piece is considered so powerful , It is lifted by wooden rods to be carried to the center of the village and never touched by the People of the Village.
Songye People of Dr. Congo performed traditional dances such as ToseKinglingala , Mapasa, Tombole , Baakisiimba , Nankasa , Warrior dances , Initiation dance and other different types of Traditional dances furthermore , Songye celebrate festivals such as Songye Kifwebe Mask festival , Kabashilange , Maize festival and other kinds of traditional festivals.
Research by Selikem Okatakyie