Mask "kifwebe", male type "kilume" ·  R. D. Congo, Songye · ID: 3039497

Description

wood, polychrome paint, of elongated narrow form, eyes and mouth widely projecting to the front, covered by fine linear grooves, min. dam., missing parts, slight traces of abrasion, base;
the “kifwebe” mask represents a spirit being; it belongs to an association which bears the same name, “bwadi ka bifwebe”. The mask type has various forms of appearancees depending on function and local origin. According to J. W. Mestach there are three classical types of “kifwebe” maks: the male type “kilume”, the female type “kikashi” and the most powerful of all, the “kifwebe kia ndoshi”, charged with magical loading. Because of the projecting forehead crest present mask can be classified as male “kifwebe” type “kilume”.