DRC Pende Mask – Kongol

Description

Pende masks are among the most dramatic works of all African art.
The 250,000 to 500,000 Pende people settled in the region near the Loango and Kasai Rivers. They are governed by a central authority, but pay allegiance to family chiefs, known as Djigo. This style of mask continues to be worn by entertainers performing before village communities. According to contemporary carvers, the masks’ features represent idealized gender distinctions for appearance and social behavior. Pende mask’s eyes usually seem closed, or downward-looking, and the colors favored are black, white, red or ochre. Cowrie shells, beads, and long beards carved of wood are also often present in these African masks from the Pende.