African Arts Gallery

African Lega sculptures in African art. This mask, which was not intended to be worn, but manipulated during rituals, indicated the stage that its holder had reached within theBwami, a learning society made up of different grades, and that joined the wives whose spouse had reached the third level, that of ngandu.
Within the Léga, the society of Bwami open to men and women, organized social and political life. There were up to seven levels of initiation, each associated with emblems. Following Social recognition and authority also had to be earned individually: the leader owed his selection to his heart (mutima), good character, intelligence, and impeccable behavior. During ritual ceremonies, Idumu masks, collectively owned, were presented to initiates placed on a barrier and surrounded by smaller individual masks. The passage of a grade indicated the acquisition of a certain wisdom and individual morality.