African Arts Gallery

Integrating the category of female masks, this African initiation mask, Mbuya , embodies a diviner named Nganga Ngombo, which is indicated by the signs symbolizing a particular sensory acuity engraved on the forehead and the cheeks. The patina would result from a mixture of red ocher bark and palm oil.

Abraded matte patina. Height on base: 37 cm.

The western Pende live on the banks of the Kwilu, while the eastern people have settled on the banks of the Kasai downstream from Tshikapa. The influences of neighboring ethnic groups, Mbla, Suku, Wongo, Leele, Kuba and Salempasu imprinted on their large tribal art sculpture. Within this diversity, the Mbuya masks, realistic, produced every ten years, take on a festive function, and embody different characters that are difficult to differentiate without their costume, including the chief fumu or ufumu, the diviner and his wife, the prostitute, the jester, tundu, the possessed, etc... Mbuya initiation masks related to initiation mukanda and those of power, the minganji, represent the ancestors and occur successively during the same ceremonies, agricultural festivals, initiation rituals and mukanda circumcision , enthronement of the chief. (Art and Life in Africa, C.D. Roy; "Pende" Strother)