African Arts Gallery

Luluwa mask (N° 21759)

This African mask whose protruding eyes are surrounded by large sockets, offers a triangular structure and a pointed chin. There are similarities with those of neighboring Mbagani. He appeared during circumcision rituals and at the funerals of notables. Satin black patina, minimal abrasion.
The scarifications were signs of beauty with symbolic value, revealing exceptional physical and moral quality. “The concentric circles suggest not only the great stars, but also hope.”
Lulua is an umbrella term, which refers to a large number of heterogeneous peoples who inhabit the area near the Lulua River, between the Kasai and Sankuru rivers. The Lulua people migrated from West Africa during the 18th century and settled in the southern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire). They number 300,000 and live in small regional chiefdoms and in times of crisis, they elect a common leader. The role of the village chief is to ensure political, legal and social cohesion. During the late 19th century, the Lulua culture underwent radical changes. In 1875, King Lulua, Kalambam, introduced new social and religious rules, which ended the traditional consumption of palm wine and the ban on smoking hemp. They produced few masks, but mostly statues of ancestors representing the ideal warrior, mulalenga wa nkashaama , as well as the leader of the Leopard society and statuettes < i> mbulenga related to the spirits of nature.
Ref. "Initiates, Congo Basin". Ed. Dapper Museum; African art ", Kerchache" 100 people of Zaire and their Scupture "M.L. Félix."