Mbuti-Pygmy BARKCLOTH – Ituri Rainforest, DR Congo

Hand-beaten tree bark, painted with organic pigments. Approx. 82 × 49 cm (32.28″ × 19.29″).

The Mbuti people, among the oldest indigenous groups of the Congo region, are semi-nomadic hunter-gatherers living in the Ituri rainforest. Organized in small bands of 15 to 60 individuals, they rely on the forest for food, shelter, and cultural identity. Bark cloth (tapa) has traditionally served as clothing and ceremonial attire, often used in dances and rituals. Larger pieces were made by women to welcome newborns, as trees were considered sacred and their bark believed to hold protective qualities.

This example is decorated with abstract geometric patterns painted with natural pigments, reflecting the distinctive aesthetic and symbolic richness of Mbuti art.

References for further study:

• Mbuti Design: Paintings by Pygmy Women of the Ituri Forest – Georges Meurant, Robert Farris Thompson (1996)
• Tapa Mbuti. Antropologia dell’astratto – Matteo Meschiari, Archivio Antropologico Mediterraneo (2007-2008)
• Pygmy Drawing: A Collection of Rare Drawings on Bark Cloth by the Mbuti Pygmies of the Ituri Forest of Zaire – Linda Einfeld

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