Miniature Kifwebe Mask - Songye People - Congo - SOLD

Price: $0.00


 


Masks of the Bwadi Bwa Kifwebe Society aid its leaders in the exercise of economic & political power by evoking the help of supernatural forces. Songye masks are distinguished by rows of grooves on the mask face, representing the subterranean region from which the primordial couple emerged. The masks depict either a male or female spirit. Female masks are predominantly white or have retained the color of the wood; male masks usually incorporate the color red. Male masks have an upstanding comb which extends over the head into the nose. In contrast, female masks have only a small crest, & stripes which are closer together.

Miniature masks are similar is style to the larger ones used in the ceremonies of the bwadi bwa kifwebe society. They were commissioned by individuals and acted as a bridge between the physical world and the realm of the ancestors. They were used as a means of spiritual protection against witchcraft and other malevolent forces. This mask is female, which embodies beauty, peace, wisdom, and ensures the continuity of the community through the generations.

7.5"H x 4.5"W x 4"D NOTE: Mask reaches height of just over 12" when displayed on included stand.
SOLD