Mask "idimu" ·  D. R. Congo, Lega · ID: 3033400

Description

wood, middle brown patina, circles with central drilling on the forehead, mouth with notched rim, pierced around the rim, fissures, on metal base;
Lega masks fall into the category of “bwami” initiation objects. There are five different types: “lukwakongo”, “kayamba”, “idimu”, “muminia”, and “lukungu”. They serve as important marks of rank, identifying the owners as members of specific “bwami” levels. The “idimu” mask is owned collectively and is kept by an appropriate member of “yananio” or “kindi”. In a major performance, the “idimu” mask is hung from a fence surrounded by the smaller, individually owned “lukwakongo” masks.

The object Mask “idimu” with the object ID 3033400 was last part of the auction 70th tribal art auction at September 8, 2012 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house and had the lot number 414.

You can find more Masks and other popular object types on our related topic pages. You may also be interested in our page on African art.

Comparing literature

Biebuyck, Daniel P., Lega, Brüssel 2002, p. 78, ill. 24