Shi Milk
Container - Cup
Congo / Rwanda
- Circa 1920
The Shi live along
Congo and Rwanda's lake Tanganyika northernmost region. Marc Leo Felix wrote in
"100 Peoples of Zaire and Their Sculpture"; The Twa pygmies were the
original inhabitants of the region, joined later by the bajunji, Bantu dynasties
from the West, who arrived with some Lega. The next arrivals were expansionist
pastoral groups from Rwanda, and eventually all these groups mingled together.
Oral history has it hat they were once divided into clans, which were each
politically separate and independent under a clan chief. By the early 20th c.
all the peoples had state like political organization under the central
authority of supreme chief. Divided in subgroups: Uhavu, Citwinja, Malinjalinja,
Cizibaziba, Marongeronge, Ciehinyiehinyi.
Felix also mentions that their
religion is; elaborate, complicated by syncretistic tendencies having been
overlaid with cults of different origins.
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The
Shi are also known as
the Omushi, Abashi, Amashi, Bashi, Banyabungu, Wanyabungu and Bahavu. We suspect there is
more to the origins to the Shi then what has been recorded and propose the Bechwana
- Tswana peoples,
as well as the Shona and / or related others, should not be discounted as
part of the Shi's cultural mix. Consider the following;
1) In the early
1800's, Southern African tribes suffered through the
Mfecane, Lifaqane, or
Difaqane. It was a period of great upheaval and turmoil, brought on by wars and
famine in the region. Many Southern African peoples fled and some most certainly
traveled in the present day Shi area and beyond, some as far north as Lake
Victoria.
2) There is a remarkable resemblance
between Shi knives and scabbards, to those of 19th century Shona and Bechwana/Tswana manufacture.
Ironsmiths of both the Shi and Shona produced blades that were “ogee in section”
or “blood grooved”.
3) Wooden milk pails from the period show an amazing
similarity to Tswana/Bechwana wooden containers, including the choice of
lightweight wood decorated with specific chevron designed pokerwork.
4) Mention is made in
100 Peoples of Zaire and Their Sculpture that Shi plastic arts were somewhat limited to wooden containers and that they wore cowhide
cloths. The Bechwana/Tswana peoples wooden objects were likewise very much
limited to wooden containers and decorated knives. At the same time, most
southern African peoples wore leather cloths, including the Bechwana/Tswana and
Shona...
Shi wooden milk vessels
were carved surprisingly thin. So thin that once it hand, you become startled to
realize the extraordinary precision required to place the inner and outer circular forms
so close to one another, one perfect surface nearly touching the other.
The
precise "roundness" of
their containers, made it possible for them to stand upright on sandy soil,
after milk had been placed within, all thanks to amazing symmetry.
Related examples
in the Biebuyck Family
Collection
Shi milk containers include a spout, or an
angled rim, which insured that milk was not lost when pouring.
The effectiveness of this equaled that of a funnel. Those
with structural supports (right) had the same spouts, which confirms
the objects central market intention was for African usage.
A siphon or funnel example example
is shown to the upper left and below.
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The patina on this example is
deep and the break which adds character, very old.
Many Shi items from the
northern Lake Tanganyika region overlap with wooden items found in
Western Zambia. The Nkoya people living there make use of related
carved funnels.
Click this link to view
a related Nkoya example. Be sure to scroll down.
Shi Milk
Cup - Congo - Rwanda
Circa 1940's
Shi have been
referred to as
Omushi, Abashi, Amashi, Bashi, Banyabungu, Wanyabungu and Bahavu
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The Shi live along the
northern portion of Lake Tanganyika in both the Congo and Rwanda.
Another
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Shi drank
milk from wooden cups with carved angled lips for poring.
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