A Lega statue of Sakimatwematwe from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) led an auction of African and Oceanic art at Sotheby's Paris on December 14.

Sakimatwematwe is an important figure in the Bwami religion

It realised $518,500, a sum in the middle of its estimate.

Sakimatwematwe translates as Lord of the Many Heads in Lega dialect and is an important figure in the local Bwami religion.

While the age of the piece is unknown, it was given as a gift to Rene Marchal, the French colonial administrator of the region, between 1922 and 1947.