Songye Mask- Wende
AU $360.00 AU $270.00
An extra large male “Kilume” mask with high crest.
The high crest symbolizes authority and spiritual power within Songye culture, often worn by leaders or during important rituals.
Country of Origin…………….. Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaire)
Culture………………………… Songye
Function……………………….. Healing & Purification
Dimensions……………………. 75cm H x 23 W x 19 D
1 in stock
Description
“Kifwebe” masks are usually worn in pairs during dances that show both men and women; they incarnate the spirits of the dead, supernatural forces, and mysterious beings
The Songye people of the Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire) are closely related to the Luba people of the same region. Both use a variety of face masks for social control and village purification. The Songye were formerly a warlike people and used their masks to frighten enemies, as well as to frighten away evil spirits from the village or from a sick individual plagued by them. The masks are danced by secret societies to protect the village and are usually worn with a full body costume of raffia. Songye masks are typically characterized by striations carved into the face, representing the facial scarification used by Songye warriors.
Additional information
| Weight | 5 kg |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 65 × 25 × 30 cm |
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.