Mask "lukwakongo"

Description

wood, brown patina, kaolin, remains of pigments, beard made of plant fibres, min. dam, crack (right side), slight traces of abrasion, base;
Lega masks are marks of rank within the different levels of initiation in the “bwami” society. There are five different mask types: “lukwakongo”, “kayamba”, “idimu”, “muminia”, and “lukungu”. Young men received the “lukwakongo” masks during the “yananio” rites. These masks were the most important insignia of rank until the owner moved to the higher level of “kindi” and trades his wooden mask for an ivory one, called “lukungu”.