African Arts Gallery

Luba Mask (N° 18742) Deposit sale

Among the Luba, it is the initiation ceremonies that essentially authorize masked manifestations. The kaolin whose mask is coated is associated with the divine, the light, the moon, but also with cassava flour and the ancestors. This reduced version, of a realistic type, could be a variant of the masks kifwebe that the Songye share. Very diverse according to the regions, Luba art expressed itself through a sculpture often imbued with serenity. Essentially originating from the banks of the Lualaba River, from the areas around Lake Upemba, and from the east of what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo, this tribal art was intended to strengthen the political power of chiefs, to enhance royalty and to recall the Luba epic. Throughout their migration, the Luba came into contact with various groups that influenced their style, including the Songye. Watch the video