African Arts Gallery

The African masks "of illness" Pende Mbangu (deformed mouth) or Bwala-Bwala , illustrate, by their outraged features, the patient in epileptic crisis or the result of facial paralysis caused by witchcraft rituals. The dancer who wears this comedy mask wears a feather hat gifuatu of guinea fowl, coucal or turaco, or the lumbandu, a crown of leaves. It is also often fitted with a hump on its back, exaggerating the character's handicapped appearance. This mask of the Pende established in upper Kwango is distinguished by its bent nose and a deformed mouth. This mask version is distinguished by its button eyes.
Abrasions, satin patina. Height on base: 32 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 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... (Art and Life in Africa, CD Roy; "Pende" Strother)