Masquette féminine "kifwebe" (pl. "bifwebe)
Aaron Furman, New York, USA / Portugal (around 1959)
Allan Stone, New York, USA
Description
wood, pigments, animal hair, metal, base
In his standard work on the art of Songye, “Songye Studies” (1985), Mestach reports of " diminutive" masks “kifwebe”, often blind, which served as “fetish” masks. According to various reports, they served as protection against illness and evil spirits. They are also said to have stood in for the big masks: “placed behind the full-sized mask in the hut “kiobo”, they were supposed to substitute the former when these went out” (according to information on site).
More likely, however, they served as insignia or as messages for members of the “bwadi bwa kifwebe” society. These maskettes were often tied to the arms, neck, or back of the actual masking costume, both to identify the masker and, more importantly, to protect against disease and evil spirits.
Diseases were usually attributed to attacks or spells of a witch “ndoshi”. In some instances, however, these small masks could be used in malevolent actions by the same “ndoshi” from which they were meant to provide protection.
Littérature comparée
Mestach, Jean Willy, Songye Studien, München 1985, p. 62 f. Woods, Davy, "Kifwebe Maskettes of the Luba and the Songye", in: Tribal Art, no. 48, Spring 2008, p. 102-112Publications
Aaron Furman Gallery, Exhibition Catalogue (cover); Willy Mestach Files (AHDRC 0141197)AHDRC: 0141197