African Arts Gallery

African masks Lega. This type of lega mask indicated the stage that its holder had reached within the Bwami. His double gaze evokes spiritual vision. Smooth brown patina, cracks concentrated at the top, erosions. Height on base: 49 cm.
Within the Léga, the society of Bwami open to men and women, organized social and political life. There were up to seven levels of initiation, each associated with emblems. Following their exodus from Uganda during the 17th century, the Lega settled on the west bank of the Lualaba River in the DRC. Social recognition and authority also had to be earned individually: the leader owed his selection to his heart (mutima), good character, intelligence, and impeccable behavior. During ritual ceremonies, the Idumu masks were presented to the initiates placed on a barrier and surrounded by smaller masks. The teacher guided the aspirant to a place where masks and statuettes were exhibited, and it was through attentive observation that the future initiate had to guess the more or less complex meaning of these metaphors, the latter referring largely to proverbs and sayings. (Art of the Lega, Cameron)