ZANDE

NORTHE – EASTERN ZAIRE

Yanda comes from the Zande area of Zaire. The word Yanda is used for this little figure and alsofor the Protecting Spirit of the sect that venerates it. The sect was opposed by the Zande princes and by the early twentieth century colonial powers. The ideals of this sect were both remarkable and commendable in that "...it was sympathetic to social change and fired feelings of revolt among those sectors of the population that had always been excluded from the exercise of power, for example, women, who were allowed to participate in meetings of the sect."