Living along the Lomami River to the northwest of the Lega people. During the 18th century, they migrated from north of the Lualaba river. Politically, each Mbole village is autonomous, the head of the village being a chief that is chosen by a councils of elders. The structural cohesion of the Mbole people is achieved by the three main societies, the Ekanga which is a society for healers and diviners, the Otuku, a society for the wives of dignitaries and the Lilwa which oversees every aspect of Mbole life. The leader of the Lilwa society is known as Isoya, and is regarded as so important that he will be buried in a tree and his village hut is kept empty.
They are known for their Lilwa society, a graded men’s society, which dominates Mbole life. Similar to the Bwami society, the Lilwa fulfills ritual, educational, judicial, social, political and economic functions. A sophisticated moral philosophy underlies its teachings and rituals. The rites of passage ceremonies of the Mbole are carried out for boys between the ages of seven and twelve years of age. They are isolated in forest ritual camps where they undergo circumcision and initiation; during this process they undergo ritual purification and proving themselves through various ordeals and fasting. They receive teachings with regard to appropriate moral, ritual and social behavior as well as practical teachings such as hunting, farming and family responsibility.
The Mbole are known for their Ofika statuary, this statuary is specifically for the Lilwa society, and their purpose is to impress to the young initiates the importance of secrecy within the Lilwa society. Secrecy was of such importance, that execution by hanging was the punishment dealt out for revealing of secret information. The ofika, which were hidden from the uninitiated, were named after hanged offenders and carved by a member of the hanged person’s family, believed to contain his soul. During initial stage of initiation, the boys are beaten and shown images. The initiates are taught the circumstances of the trial and execution of Mbole people who have breached the moral and legal code upheld by the Lilwa. The women and children are not allowed to see these ofika which are kept in special huts in the forest.
