Anthropo/ zoomorphic face mask "panya ngombe"
D. R. Congo, Pende, East
not available anymore
Provenance
collected in situ, Kinshasa 1978Georges Stoecklin, Juan les Pins, France
Lucien Van de Velde, Antwerp, Belgium
Hans Hess, Basel, Switzerland
Size
H: 25 cm
B: 41,5 cm
H: 9.8 inch
B: 16.3 inch
Description
wood, polychrome painted,
This mask is carved with the features of a human face but is said to represent a bull or bush cow, a symbol of strength and chiefly power. These masks formerly belonged to the insignia of important chiefs (“mbuya jia ufumu”).
The masked dancers appeared only during the “mukanda” initiation of adolescent boys after their circumcision, to gather donations to cover the cost of the celebration that took place after the initiation period.
Publications
AHDRC: 0038512