Mask of the "n-khanda" or "mukanda" initiation society ·  D. R. Congo, Yaka · ID: 3050278

Description

wood, fabric, colour pigments, base

The Yaka use various types of masks that appear at the “coming-out” festivities of the boys after the end of their period of seclusion.

Bourgeois reports: ’the Northern Yaka use a series of eight dance masks… The most important are the first and the last: “kambaandzya” and “kholuka”. The masks that appear between them – in pairs – are called “tsekedi”, “myondo” and “ndeemba”.

It is hardly possible to determine the masks precisely. In any case, they are worn by the newly initiated, and sometimes also by an “n-khanda” official, the head of the ceremony.

According to Graeve, this mask could be classifed as “kaambandzya”.

“Kaambandzya” is regarded as the patron and founder of initiation and circumcision, and his mask is considered the oldest.

The object Mask of the “n-khanda” or “mukanda” initiation society with the object ID 3050278 was part of the auction Collectors’ Items Sale on September 24, 2025. The object with the lot number 303 achieved a sales price of EUR 1,000 with an asking price of EUR 900.

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

Bourgeois, Arthur P., Art of the Yaka and Suku, Paris 1984, p. 189, 175 a Detlev von Graeve, Yaka - Drei Masken für festliche Auftritte - Kaambandzya, 29. Mai 2016