Mask "kifwebe", male type "ndoshi" ·  D. R. Congo, Kalebwe Region, Songe · ID: 3046784

Description

wood, polychrome painted,
“Kifwebe” masks were the property of the “bwadi bwa kifwebe” society, which was responsible for maintaining social order and political power within the Songe society.

Community leaders made use of witchcraft (“buchi”) and magic (“masende”) to enforce desired behaviour; to harness the powers of “buchi” and “masende”, “kifwebe” masks are danced.

With the “kifwebe” (pl. “bifwebe”) - masks three types can be distinguished: the male type “kilume”, which was worn by important members of the community; the female type “kikashi”, a benevolent mask figure and the most powerful type, “ndoshi”, masks that are linked with magic and especially sorcery.

A comparable mask of this type illustrated in Neyt (2019), p. 97, Pl. 40.

The object Mask “kifwebe”, male type “ndoshi” with the object ID 3046784 was last part of the auction 95th Tribal Art Auction at October 24, 2020 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house. The object with the lot number 293 achieved a sales price of EUR 2,500.

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

Neyt, Francois, Kifwebe, A century of Songye and Luba Masks, Milan, 2019