African Arts Gallery

Belgian collection of African art
African Pende Mbangu "disease" masks, also known as Bwala-Bwala, exaggerately depict the symptoms of illnesses such as epilepsy or facial paralysis, often attributed to rituals of witchcraft. These comedy masks are worn by dancers wearing hats decorated with guinea fowl, coucal or turaco feathers, or sometimes lumbandu, a crown of leaves. They often have a hump on their back, thus accentuating the disabled appearance of the character. The Pende masks, established in the upper Kwango region, are distinguished by their bent noses and distorted mouths, as well as their contrasting color areas. They have a characteristic semi-matte patina.
The Western Pende live along the banks of the Kwilu, while the Easterners have settled on the banks of the Kasai downstream of Tshikapa. Their large tribal art sculpture is influenced by neighboring ethnic groups such as the Mbla, Suku, Wongo, Leele, Kuba and Salempasu. Among this diversity, Mbuya masks, produced every ten years, have a festive function and represent a variety of characters, including the fumu or ufumu chief, the soothsayer and his wife, the prostitute, the jester, tundu, the possessed, etc. .