African Arts Gallery

Luba Mask (N° 16602)

Ex-collection Belgian African art.
This mask, which had similarities to the Songye masks, did not have the same function. This category of rather rare African masks are named "bifwebe". They appeared at funerals and investitures. He performed during the ritual ceremonies of the kazanzi society, which was responsible for combating witchcraft. "Bifwebe" (Sing.: kifwebe) would mean, according to C. Faïk-Nzuji, "chasing the death". Worn with a voluminous raphia collar that concealed the dancer, this mask was usually danced in the company of a zoomorphic mask. In the Luba, white is synonymous with the relationship with the spiritual world, by evoking the moon evoked by the circular form of the object. Half-closed globular eyelids are hollowed out, as are nostrils and a quadrangle mouth. Parallel stripes are dug on the surface, which were usually covered with white clay. Matte and locally abraded patina, discreet red ochre highlights.
The Luba (Baluba in Chiluba) are a people of Central Africa. Their cradle is the Katanga, specifically the region of the Lubu River, so the name (Baluba, which means \