Mask "mwana pwo"

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Description

wood, slightly encrusted dark brown patina, broad face, separately worked wooden splinters as teeth, facial scarifications, pierced around the rim, small missing parts through insect caused damage, fine cracks, slight traces of abrasion, socle:
depicting a female ancestor, whereupon the Chokwe distinguish two characters: “pwo”, a mature, adult woman and “mwana pwo”, the younger female. Masks with few scarification details are more often said to represent the younger character. The “pwo” mask type appears during boy’s “mukanda” initiation. In the performed dances the roles of women in Chokwe society is characterized. The mask type is always danced by men, who already have reached the highest stage of initiation.

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Comparing literature

Yale Archive No. 0006625 (comparable object)

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