The mouth of this African mask formed by a spherical block emerges in a quadrangular projection. The nose pierced with nostrils continues in a crest at the top. Similar in appearance to some songye masks, it did not however have the same function. These African masks called "bifwebe" appeared during funerals and investitures. The surface is streaked with lines coated with kaolin. Abraded matte patina. They performed during the ritual ceremonies of the kazanzi society, responsible for the fight against witchcraft. "Bifwebe" (Sing.: Kifwebe) would also mean, according to C. Faïk-Nzuji, "to chase death". Worn with a voluminous raffia ruff that concealed the dancer, this mask was generally danced in the company of a zoomorphic mask. Among the Luba, white is synonymous with the relationship with the spiritual world, by the evocation of the moon evoked by the circular shape of the object. The edges are provided with holes. Matte patina.
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