Dance crest "echwaboka" of the "alunga" society ·  D. R. Congo, Bembe II - Eastern Bembe · ID: 3042090

Description

light wood, washing patina, faint remains of kaolin and dark pigment, made of two sections held together by strings, one pair of large hollowed eyes to each side with conical pupils on star-shaped ground, handwritten collection-number “FC997”, slightly dam., missing parts (both ears on one side), traces of insect caused damage (projections on top), strong abrasion of paint, base;
representing “echwaboka”, a forest spirit who is also believed to be a god of the dead. The dance crests are used in hunting and during ancestor veneration ceremonies. The rituals are organized by members of the “bacwa” secret society. To clear a path, an assistant preceded him with a ceremonial wood knife. His ties to the world of the dead made him potentially helpful and dangerous. He could demand reparation from those who prayed to him. An oracle pronounced his will. The mask supports a large, complex array of plumes and is worn with a costume that completely covers the dancer.

Comparing literature

Bouttiaux, Anne-Marie, Persona, Masks of Africa, Tervuren 2009, p. 214 f. Schädler, Karl-Ferdinand, Encyclopedia of African Art and Culture, Munich 2009, p. 93