The Pende also is known as the Phende people are an ethnic group in the south-western Democratic Republic of Congo. The Pende are divided into two cultural the Eastern Pende and the Western Pende, Kwilu and Kasai respectively. Pende masks are among the most dramatic works of all African art. This is called a unique Giwoyo Pende mask, it is rare and has a consistent form because it sits on the top of the head like a baseball cap so that the face looks upwards and the tapering projection below entends forward in space. For these reasons, the eyes are not pierced. The dancer looks out from below the projection. Giwoyo represents a Lemba (maternal uncle) on his funeral bier at a wake. The Giwoyo performs strictly in the bush not near the village because the Pende believe that spirits of the dead linger in the bush on the borders of the village. This small mask was attached to a dancer who wore the “Giwoyo” mask, it used to remind the participants of the purpose of the masquerade rather not to honor the maternal ancestors and to gain protection. It has a khaki patina and scarifications and visible incised spots with visible signs of age.
- Material: Wood, fiber strings and thick layers of raffia
- Condition: Good
- Age:approx 50-60yrs
- Origin: Democratic Republic of Congo
- SKU: LMIN-048
- Weight: 0.1 kg
- Dimensions: 6 x 16 x 6.5 cm