African Arts Gallery

Colorful geometry for this African mask with pure lines, among the great diversity of African hanging sculptures. Matte patina.
Height on base: 36 cm.
The Western Pende live on the banks of the Kwilu, while the Eastern are established on the banks of the Kasaï downstream of Tshikapa. The influence of the neighboring ethnic groups, Mbla, Suku, Wongo, Leele, Kuba and Salempasu is 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, including the chief, the diviner and his wife, the prostitute, the possessed, etc... The masks of initiation and those of power, the minganji, represent the ancestors and occur successively during the same ceremonies, agricultural festivals, initiation and circumcision rituals mukanda, enthronement of the chief.