#lega

At the heart of Central Africa, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, lies a land of great human and cultural richness, crossed by the vast equatorial forest. The DRC is a complex country, home to many peoples, languages, and traditions. Its history and geopolitical struggles can, in some ways, echo those of Haiti : a land marked by exploitation and violence, but also by deep social, spiritual, and intellectual strength.

Today, I want to speak about the Lega people, for whom art is never decorative or superficial. It is deeply connected to knowledge, ethics, and initiation. I mentioned the Lega in a recent post, and I hope one day to travel to the DRC and other African countries, to move slowly, to explore, perhaps with a caravan, in a attentive way.

Among the Lega, art is inseparable from the Bwami, a traditional initiation society that can be understood as a true school of wisdom. Bwami guides moral, social, and spiritual life. It involves both women and men and unfolds throughout a person’s life, through different levels that correspond to deeper and deeper knowledge.

The objects used within the Bwami are called Isengo (singular) or Masengo (plural). This word describe the inner force and power it carries. To say isengo means to speak of both the object and the energy within it.

Masks, small sculptures, spoons, ornaments, musical instruments, and elements from plants or animals are all carefully made with intention and meaning. These objects are used to teach, to initiate, and to transmit values. Each one is a visual lesson, a message left by the ancestors, a form of knowledge that must be learned slowly and respectfully.

The Lega masks often have bean-shaped eyes, a long nose, and a small open mouth, Unlike many other African masks, they are usually not worn on the face. Instead, they may be tied to the arm or placed on special ceremonial structures. Their role is to reveal knowledge to initiates, through the guidance of elders and the presence of ancestors.

Some of the most powerful objects are the Kalukili spoons, which are purely ritual. They appear in certain initiation rites and symbolize both poison and antidote, danger and healing. They remind us that knowledge is powerful and must be handled with care.

Lega objects is known for its simple, abstract, and inward-looking forms. The goal is to express inner strength and thought. This quiet power deeply influenced Western artists in the twentieth century.

In Lega society, beauty is never separated from moral value. Bwami teaches that beauty, ethics, and knowledge are one. Objects are passed down from one generation to another, following strict rules, strengthening social bonds and continuity over time.

This opinion is bad news for the Trump administration, which is going to have to defend itself against Abrego Garcia’s claim he’s being vindictively prosecuted. But that claim is supported by some of the government’s own emails.

«La vedo stanco. C'è qualche problema?», disse il giovane leghista.

Aveva ragione. Salvini era preoccupato.

«Il problema è la legge Fornero».

«Non la togliamo neanche stavolta?».

«No».

«Quindi non manteniamo la promessa?».

«Non la manteniamo», farfugliò Salvini.

Dopo qualche secondo, il giovane ebbe un'illuminazione: «Ma abbiamo mai mantenuto una promessa?».

Salvini ci pensò su. «Certo che no, ci mancherebbe!», rispose quasi con orgoglio. Quale imbecille mantiene le promesse?

Il giovane sorrise e disse: «Continuiamo così e non si noterà nulla. Se mantieni una promessa poi la gente si fa strane idee».

Salvini guardò oltre il vetro della finestra, scrutò compiaciuto la speculazione edilizia e ripensò ai primi anni della sua militanza. «Anch'io ero un giovane pieno di ideali che fregava la gente con entusiasmo. Ora lo faccio per abitudine, senza la grinta di un tempo».

Poi rivolse al giovane uno sguardo paterno. «Sei un bravo ragazzo», gli disse. Il futuro del partito era in buone mani.

The Folk Song Oil on canvas, Galleria dell'Arte Moderna, Palazzo Pitti, Florence

LEGA, Silvestro

Italian painter (b. 1826, Modigliana, d. 1895, Firenze)

Lepaskan saja

Kepada nafas yang sering tertahan di dalam dada, lepaskan saja tak mengapa. Meski air mata akan ikut juga terlepas dari tempatnya. Namun—paling tidak—hati di sisimu akan merasa lega.