African Arts Gallery

Always worn by initiates of higher rank, these African masks embodying a female ancestor mwana pwo were often adorned with buttons and accessories of European origin. This sober copy takes up the feminine aesthetic criteria in use, finesse of the features, keloids in relief, filed teeth. Cracks, glossy black patina.
Height on base: 31 cm.
Peacefully settled in eastern Angola until the 16th century, the Chokwé were then subjected to the Lunda empire from which they inherited a new hierarchical system and the sacredness of power. African Chokwe pwo masks, among the many akishi (sing: mukishi, indicating power) masks of African Chokwe art, embody an ideal of beauty, Mwana Pwo, or the woman Pwo and appear nowadays during festive ceremonies. Joined to their male ...

African Pende Mbangu "disease" masks, also known as Bwala-Bwala, are exaggerated depictions of the symptoms of illnesses such as epilepsy or facial paralysis, often associated with practices of witchcraft. These comedy masks are worn by dancers wearing hats decorated with guinea fowl, coucal or turaco feathers, and sometimes even lumbandu, a crown of leaves. They often have a hump on the back, thus accentuating the disabled aspect of the character. Pende masks, originating from the upper Kwango region, are characterized by an angled nose and distorted mouth, as well as areas of contrasting colors. Their semi-matte patina is typical of their style.
The Western Pende are established along the banks of the Kwilu, while the Eastern Pende settled along the banks of the Kasai ...

French collection of African tribal art.

African mask associated with the spirits of nature, used by one of the male brotherhoods sekiapu or "dancing people". They wore it obliquely on their heads. Polychromy orange, dark green and black. The Ijo of the Niger Delta live mainly from fishing and agriculture, and their small villages are located in marshy areas west of the Nun River. References to their warrior past abound in reliquaries, rituals and masked celebrations.
Their masks and other artistic productions are intended to honor the aquatic spirits, oru or owuamapu, whom they venerate and to whom sacrifices were intended. The fishermen had to be careful not to offend these spirits, otherwise they could unleash their wrath on the various dangerous animal species in ...

French Collection of African Art
"Mani" is a diminutive meaning "little person" qualifying the African puppets with human faces used by the Bambara and Markha during educational shows. This tradition of puppet theater is common to the multi-ethnic peoples living in the inner delta of the Niger, including the Bozo, particularly in the region of Ségou where it is called "sogobo".
Old patina, abrasions and wood-eating attacks stopped. Articulated arms and legs.
In Mali, the invention of the puppet is attributed to the bush spirits who kidnapped Toboji Centa, a Bozo fisherman. During his stay with the spirits, the man became familiar with this unknown art. Upon his return, he went to the sculptor-blacksmiths and taught them how to make two kinds of puppets: miniaturized or ...

The African mask Mbole appears on stage during the funerals of Lilwa dignitaries or is used by the blacksmith during circumcision rituals. Flat, oval in shape, it offers discreet reliefs accentuating the eyebrow line that is enhanced by contrasting shades. Height on base: 38 cm.
The Lualaba province had several closely related ethnic groups with similar associations. The Mbole and the Yela are known for their statues embodying, according to D. Biebuck, hanged men, called ofika. The lilwa, an association with dogmatic initiation rites, had the custom of judging and condemning to hanging those guilty of infractions of the imposed rules, which nevertheless remained exceptional. These offences ranged from murder to adultery to breaking the secret surrounding the lilwa. Dishonoured, the ...

Belgian Collection of African Art Example of a chief's mask of the Ekpo type of the Edo , carved from dense wood. The Edo are an Edo-speaking people established in the south of the Edo State in Nigeria. They are descended from the founders of the ancient Benin Kingdom. They are related to other groups in southern Nigeria, such as the Esan, the Etsak?, the Isoko, the Yoruba and the Urhobo. Matte patina, erosions, discrete losses and desiccation cracks.

It was during the Okuyi dance and the cults dedicated to the ancestors, ritual practices shared with the Punu, that this type of traditional African mask appeared, evoking a young deceased woman. The softly modeled face is free of scarifications. The presence of horns would probably be associated with a bush spirit.
Within the group named Shira, the Lumbu Loumbu, Balumbu, of Bantu origin and originating from the Congo kingdom, settled on the coastal part of Gabon, and in the Republic Congo, in the middle Ogooue. They keep the bones of their ancestors in reliquary baskets adorned with statuettes and other prestigious objects.
Among the Lumbu, the boyo is a local equivalent of the mwiri: he was responsible for maintaining order and making women obey. Manifesting itself ...

This slightly concave African mask whose lower part is divided into two planes like a wide mouth probably forms an unusual version of Mbole masks. Its particularity lies in its oblique, striated eyelids, highlighted by an eyebrow arch in high relief. This type of mask was kept in a basket in the lodge belonging to the ekanga secret society. Spotted patina. Height on base: 45 cm.
The province of Lualaba had several close ethnic groups with similar associations. The Mbole and the Yela are known for their statues embodying, according to D. Biebuck, hanged men, named ofika. The lilwa , an association with dogmatic initiation rites, used to judge and condemn to hanging those guilty of breaches of the imposed rules. These offenses ranged from murder to adultery to breaking the ...

Mahakala (en tibétain Ginpo) "le grand temps" ou Nagpo Chenpo ( en tibétain) "le grand noir" est pour les adeptes du bouddhisme tantrique une incarnation du dieu hindou Shiva converti au bouddhisme. Sa physionomie effrayante est souvent représentée dans les monastères, sur les murs au-dessus des portes d'entrée des lieux communautaires. Ce masque doté de traits grossièrement façonnés, volontairement déformés, renvoie en effet à une créature monstrueuse.

The Gelede in African Art. Gelede mask depicting a face topped with an extended structure of an animal motif. In Nigeria, also in Benin, this African mask worn on the top of the head is used for the rejoicing dances of the Gelede society, and on the occasion of the funerals of its followers. These masks occur in pairs, each with a specific name. Some can be used for decades before being replaced. Matte polychrome patina partially chipped, desiccation cracks and gaps (outlines).
The Gelede country in Nigeria pays tribute to mothers, especially the oldest among them, whose powers are said to be comparable to those of the Yoruba gods, or orisa, and the ancestors, osi< /i> and which can be used for the benefit but also for the misfortune of society. In the latter case these women are ...

The African masks of the Yombe were used by the diviner nganga diphoba and by members of secret societies.
This type of mask, of which there are different variants, would be called Khimba, according to Marc Léo Félix. Chocolate and black patina, abrasions, chips.
A clan of the Kongo group, the Yombe are established on the west coast of Africa, in the south-west of the Republic of Congo and in Angola. Their statuary includes remarkable maternities. The Vili , the Lâri, the Sûndi, the Woyo, the Bembe, the Bwende, the Yombé and the Kôngo formed the Kôngo group, led by King ntotela . Their kingdom reached its peak in the 16th century with the trade in ivory, copper and the slave trade. With the same beliefs and traditions, they produced statuary endowed with codified ...

This African mask of the Lumbu type appeared during the Okuyi dance and cults dedicated to the ancestors, ritual practices shared with the Punu. According to some authors, masks without scarifications are masculine. Within the group named Shira, the Lumbu Loumbu, Balumbu, of Bantu origin and originating from the Congo kingdom, established themselves on the coastal part of Gabon, and in the Republic Congo, in the middle Ogooue. They keep the bones of their ancestors in reliquary baskets decorated with statuettes and other prestigious objects.
Lumbu and Punu produced these white masks of a similar appearance, the sculptors copied each other and the masks could be made for another group. Ref. : “Punu”. L.Perrois and C. Grand-Dufay; “Art and Kongos” M.L. Félix.

African mask of the Mbudi, Mvudi (for the Nzébi) and Mvuli (Mbédé) type, very schematized where the front forms a double projection. The dancer is adorned with attributes supposed to give him the qualities of certain animals, such as the panther, the genet or the monkey. He is equipped with scepters made of monkey hair.
Matte patina, abraded. The Aduma are an ethnic group established in central Gabon, in a mountainous region. The Adouma, “men of the river” or “master piroguiers”, have long lived on the banks of the Ogooué, upstream and downstream of Lastourville between the reaches of Doumé and Bounji. Formerly used for judicial purposes, the mask of great sobriety, called mvoudi, bodi, or even yoyo , is used today during entertainment dances. Mbudi is the male initiation ...

Mask on which is reflected the impact of the sculpture of neighboring groups, Luba, Songye, Kusu... The structure evokes the masks of the kifwebe, the major element however consisting here of a mouth in a rectangular block, in strong projection. The organs of sight and smell are comparatively inconspicuous, while zoomorphic attributes rise to the top. Discreetly polychrome decoration with alternating diamond patterns.
Height on base: 46 cm. Losses, abrasions.
Scattered throughout the Kasai basin, the Tetela of Mongo origin have been the source of incessant conflicts with their neighbors. They also participated extensively in the slave trade. Their very diverse sculpture is marked by the influence of the groups living in contact with them: in the North, their art was ...

African mask of initiation to the Bwami, supposed to indicate the acquisition of a certain wisdom and individual morality. A heart-shaped face, surrounded by small cells, is pierced with oblique eyes and a large striated mouth. Clear matte patina. Desication cracks, abrasions.
Within the Léga established on the west bank of the Lualaba River, in the DRC, the Bwami society, open to men and women, organized social and political life. There were up to seven levels of initiation, each associated with emblems. The role of chief, kindi, is held by the oldest man in the clan, who must be the highest ranking. As in other forest tribes, men hunt and clear while women cultivate cassava. Social recognition and authority also had to be earned individually: the chief owed his selection to his ...

This African animal mask, not related to initiation rites, is the first to enter the scene before other zoomorphic masks to celebrate the end of the dry season in the Bougoumi region. The villagers gather every year through masked dances and abundant consumption of beer and palm wine. Matte patina, erosions and small accidents.
Established in central and southern Mali, in a savannah area, the Bambara, "Bamana" or "unbelievers", as the Muslims have called them, belong to the large Mande group, with the Soninke and the Malinke. Mainly farmers, but also breeders, they make up the largest ethnic group in Mali. The Bambara nyamakala artisan groups, more specifically the blacksmiths called numu, are in charge of sculpting ritual objects, endowed with nyama, occult energy. Using fire ...

Ancient tribal sculpture that was worn on the head, fixed on a wickerwork headdress. It is said that an animal - genius called Ciwara taught the Bambara, or Bamana, to cultivate the land. The latter remember the myth through the stylized representation of a roan antelope, whose name ci wara means "wild beast of the earth". Worn on top of the skull and held in place by a sort of small basket, these crests accompanied the dancers during the rituals of the tòn , an association dedicated to agricultural work. The masks traveled through the field, leaping in order to chase away evil scents, and to detect any danger, or to flush out evil geniuses that could steal the soul of cultivated plants as well as the vital force of their seeds. Established in central and southern Mali, the Bambara, ...

African Art Collection Amadeo Plaza Garcés.
Antique Gelede face mask depicting a large head. The masks were repainted for each new ceremony, which seems to have been the case. Vestiges of its costume are attached to the contours.
Abrasions of use, cracks. In Nigeria, also in Benin, this African mask worn on top of the head is used for the joyful dances of the Gelede society, and on the occasion of the funerals of its followers. These masks are produced in pairs, each with a specific name.
The Gelede country in Nigeria pays homage to mothers, especially the oldest among them, whose powers are said to be comparable to those of the Yoruba gods, or orisa , and ancestors, osi and who can be used for the benefit but also for the misfortune of society. In the latter case ...

Masks equipped with round eye sockets (called gunyeya or gunye ge), facilitating vision, are part of the set of masks of the northern Dan and are used for racing events during the dry season. The zapkei ge go ge is a royal mask reserved for exceptional events. Matte black-brown patina. Minor accidents.
The Dan masks, of varied design, are generally performed during very theatrical entertainment festivals where women play a leading role. The mask called "mocking" called Déanglé defines an ideal of beauty and benevolence because it is sculpted in honor of the young girls of the village or renowned men. Each mask bore a name linked to its function. Also used during circumcision rites, they appear in the company of the singing masks gle sö and the large masks go ge relating to the ...

African mask of initiation, Mbuya, with large notched eyelids, an upturned nose, and an open mouth with sharp teeth. It has a natural fiber cap. Height on base: 45 cm.
The Pende Westerners live on the banks of the Kwilu, while the Easterners have established themselves on the banks of the Kasai downstream of Tshikapa. The influences of the neighboringethnic groups, Mbla, Suku, Wongo, Leele, Kuba and Salempasu have been imprinted on their large sculpture of tribal art. Within this diversity the realistic Mbuya masks, produced every ten years, have a festive function, and embody different characters difficult to differentiate without their costume, including the fumu chief. > or ufumu, the soothsayer and his wife, the prostitute, the jester, tundu, the possessed, etc... Mbuya ...

This African mask evoking a young woman was worn during the closing ceremonies of the Mukanda initiation. This mask was supposed to promote hunting, fertility, and harvests. Dark reddish-brown patina. Chips and abrasions.
Of Lunda origin, the Lwena (or even Lovale, or Luvale) emigrated from Angola to Zaire in the 19th century, pushed back by the Chokwe. Some became slave traders, others, the Lovale, found refuge in Zambia and near the Zambezi in Angola. Their society is matrilineal, exogamous and polygamous. The Lwena became known for their honey-colored sculptures, embodying figures of deceased ancestors and chiefs, and their masks linked to the initiation rites of mukanda. This mask is engraved with circular patterns associated with ethnic scarifications. These details ...