This wooden face mask from the Kivu region of the D.R. Congo is called Eluba, Elanda or even Emangungu. It has polychromed paint and incised decor, and eyes in scooped circular sockets beneath another face of avian form, perhaps that of an owl
which is said to have close connections to the spirits of nature.
It was used at circumcision and initiation rites of young men by the 'butende bwa eluba' society.
The masks are attached to a costume of banana leaves and bark.
The 4 eyes give
additional spiritual power and vision. It was worn by an initiate, his
identity concealed, when he left the initiation camp to ask for
offerings of food in nearby villages during his year-long period of
seclusion, part of his initiation into adulthood.
Ex. Allen Davis Collection, Virginia.
Allen Davis - Bio
August 23, 1927 ~ February 17, 2025
Ambassador Allen Davis, led a life marked by service, diplomacy and a deep appreciation for
nature and a passion for collecting African art. He found beauty and meaning in the cultures he
encountered throughout his life.
To view more of the Allen Davis Collection entitiled ‘African Brilliance: A Diplomat’s Sixty Years of Collecting’
an exhibit at Palmer Museum of Art, Penn State 2020 go to;
https://exhibitions.psu.edu/s/african-brilliance/page/allen-davis
Height: 18 ˝" x Width: 7" x Depth: 2 ˝"
