Dancing Tribesmen
Mwila (active c. 1950–70, Elisabethville, Congo)
Oil on canvas
Dimensions: 19 3/4 × 27 1/2 in. (50.2 × 69.8 cm)
Imported from Belgium via Bonhams Skinner, USA
Overview
This Dancing Tribesmen painting is a vivid example of 1950s Congolese modernism. Created by Mwila, a mid-20th-century Congolese artist working in Elisabethville (now Lubumbashi), the work captures a ceremonial ritual in motion. Three central figures dominate the canvas, locked in an energetic dance. Their spears rise as shadows stretch across a barren background, creating tension and visual rhythm. The stylized bodies, flexed and poised, reflect both ancestral memory and modernist confidence.
The composition embodies the dualities of realism and abstraction, rooted in indigenous tradition but shaped by the postcolonial moment. Dancing Tribesmen reveals Mwila’s sensitivity to both sacred performance and stylized artistic vocabulary. As a result, the piece resonates with collectors of ritual-based figuration and African modern art.
Artistic Context
Mwila’s paintings—often seen at European auctions—honor traditional ritual while incorporating modernist stylization. His compositions reflect a confidence rooted in indigenous identity, yet shaped by colonial encounter. While little is known of his formal background, works attributed to him frequently appear in Belgian and French auction records, including Drouot and Bonhams.
The city of Elisabethville was home to educational and religious institutions during Belgian rule, making it a cultural center. Dancing Tribesmen likely emerged from this climate of transition—between local tradition and global art market expansion. You can read more about this era at the Royal Museum for Central Africa.
Provenance
- Lot 444, Bonhams Skinner – Native American & Tribal Art, March 3, 2024
- Acquired by Chicagoland Masterpiece Revival LLC
- For information about our acquisition and restoration process, visit our About Us page.
Availability
This painting is available for private sale through Chicagoland Masterpiece Revival. It has been professionally imported from Belgium and will be delivered framed and ready to hang. For purchase inquiries, please contact us directly.