The Hemba people mainly inhabit the southeastern region of present-day Congo, in an area bordering the Luba. Although the Hemba have their own cultural and aesthetic legacy, their sculptures share some similarities with those of the Luba, which has caused confusion in the identification and cataloging of these pieces in the West until the late 20th century.

The typical Hemba sculpture, like the one described here, is a male figure standing on a circular base. The body has distinctive stylistic features: the legs are relatively short, the torso is elongated, and the hands rest on the abdomen, suggesting an attitude of serenity and power. The head is particularly prominent, being large in proportion to the body, crowned with a hairstyle that extends backward. This hairstyle, complex and symbolic, reflects the status of the individual represented, who could have been a leader or a revered ancestor within the community.