Mask "kasangu"

Description

wood, blackish brown patina, kaolin, of hollowed form with a tapering chin, the face dominated by a mouth carved with two rows of tapering teeth, crowned by a coiffure of rattan bowls, a beard in two plant fibre plaits, min. dam., traces of insect caused damage and abrasion;
the Salampasu have three mask types: the “idangani” masks of plaited bast, the copper sheet coated “mukinka” masks and present “kasangu” type. Each of them belongs to the warrior societies “mungongo” and “matambu”. They were used at initiation rites and on occasion of ritual festivities. The number of masks a secret society owned, indicated proven courage, experience of warfare and the number of “enemy heads” that had been taken.