Masque d'ancêtre "moghondzi" ·  Gabon, Vuvi / Tsogho / Sango · ID: 3045576

Description

wood, kaolin, hide, base

Masks of the Vuvi are controlled by the “bwete” men’s initiation society.

Masked dancers (wearing “moghondzi” masks) emerge from the dark forest at night, symbolising deceased ancestors pleased with the new initiates—they are said to arrive from the land of the dead, the land of “kombe”, the guardian of the “village of the dead”.