Female face mask "mbuya"
D. R. Congo, Pende
not available anymore
Size
H: 36 cm
H: 14.2 inch
Description
wood, the facial plane dyed with red pigment, accents in black paint and kaolin, raffia bast bonnet, hairdo with black plant fibre, horn in the parting, slightly dam., missing parts (teeth), water spots;
simply called “the female mask” or “gambanda”. It dresses like the beautiful young girl liable to become the trophy wife of a high-status male. The female mask dances to the rhythms of comtemporary popular dances and performs little comedies with a mirror and comb to suggest her vanity and preoccupation with appearance.