Kifwebe masks were made for the Bwadi Bwa Kifwebe association a masculine initiatory society in Songye a Bantu ethnic group from the central Democratic Republic of Congo. The Songye people are well-known woodcarvers for making ceremonial masks and power figures. Members of this society were believed to possess sorcerers’ powers, they exerted control over the population in order to maintain the status of the political elite. This is an interesting mask that provided a means of controlling social behaviour and neutralizing disruptive elements within the group, Senior masks have larger sagittal crests as an indication of their higher degree of social power. These smaller passport-style masks were used in a frightening ritual symbolically transforming boys into men, it has raffia on the chin, fibre woven in a mesh-like form covering the back of the mask and parts of the mask painted with white paint. This is undoubtedly an old mask with visible wear and tear both on the front and back and shows great signs of age and usage.
- Material: Wood and paint, raffia and fibre
- Age:approx 50-60yrs
- Origin: Democratic Republic Of Congo
- Condition: Good
- SKU: LMIN-039
- Weight: 0.4 kg
- Dimensions: 8 x 19 x 13 cm