Mask "mwana phwevo" ·  Angola, Luena · ID: 3038293

Description

wood, light brown patina, metal earring, kaolin, fine dotted tattoos, drilled holes in dense row around the rim (partly broken out), slightly dam. (left ear hole);
various ethnical groups in the area of the upper Sambesi and the southern Kasai area use the “mwana phwevo” mask type. It’s name, “young woman” refers to a mythological female person, who died young, and whose painful loss should be recalled by the masquerade. The masks were danced by men and appear on various festive occasions in order to amuse the village people, especially women, with their charming dances.