Mask "mwana pwo" ·  D. R. Congo, Chokwe · ID: 3051803

Description

wood, pigment, metal pins,

For a mask by the same artist, see AHDRC 0000931.

The “mwana pwo” - mask represents a female ancestor, but is danced exclusively by men. The mask appears at different ceremonial occasions, with the “mukanda” male initiation as its primary venue.

The carved scars below the eyes are particularly meaningful; they represent tears, “masoji”, that reflect the suffering mothers endure when their boys go into “mukanda” to become adults.

The object Mask “mwana pwo” with the object ID 3051803 was last part of the auction Auction 104 at April 12, 2025 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house. The object with the lot number 351 achieved a sales price of EUR 4,600.

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

Wastiau, Boris, Visions of Africa, Chokwe, Milan 2006, pl. 58