African Arts Gallery

This flat African mask is of yela inspiration, from the characteristic striations and pout. Yela masks were used by the secret initiation society ekanga.

Height on base: 64 cm. The province of Lualaba 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. Biebuck ,of the hanged, named ofika . The lilwa , an association with dogmatic initiation rites, had the custom of judging and sentencing to hanging those guilty of infractions of the imposed rules. These offenses ranged from murder to adultery to breaking the secrecy encircling the lilwa . Dishonored, the bodies of condemned persons were not given any burial and were buried in the forest. It was ...

This flat and circular African mask was kept in a basket of the lodge belonging to the secret society ekanga . Use patina with residues from a plant brush. Small restoration using wicker. Cracks. Height on a base: 46 cm.
The province of Lualaba had several close ethnic groups with similar associations. The Mbole and Yela are known for their statues, according to D. Biebuck, of the hanged, named ofika . The lilwa , an association with dogmatic initiation rites, had the custom of judging and sentencing those guilty of violations of the imposed rules to hang. These offences ranged from murder to adultery to breaking the secrecy surrounding the lilwa . Disgraced, the bodies of condemned men had no funerals and were buried in the forest. It was during the end-of-initiation ceremonies, ...

Ex-collection of Belgian African art.

The diamond-cut head offers rough lines, consisting of only incisions indicating the yux and mouth, and grooves drawing the eyebrows. Smooth polychrome patina.
The province of Lualaba had a number of related ethnic groups with similar associations. The Mbole and the Yela , Kela, 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 sentence to hang those guilty of infringing the imposed rules. These offences ranged from murder to adultery and the breaking of the secret surrounding the lilwa. Dishonored, the bodies of the condemned had no funeral and were buried in the forest. It was during the ceremonies of the end of ...

Male figure, stocky, distinguished by angular edges and a concave bust. The head with a flat skull is cut into diamonds. Sex also adopts the form of the orange. These sculptures embodying desecration of the Lilwa rules were hidden and exhibited on rare occasions. Locally chipped matte patina combining two pigments, erosions at the base.
The province of Lualaba had several close ethnic groups with similar associations. The Mbole and Yela are known for their statues, according to D. Biebuck, of the hanged, named ofika . The lilwa , an association with dogmatic initiation rites, had the custom of judging and sentencing those guilty of violations of the imposed rules to hang. These offences ranged from murder to adultery to breaking the secrecy surrounding the lilwa . Disgraced, the ...

Female figure made up of geometric surfaces. The head with a flat skull is cut into diamonds. The pubis is sculpted in prominence. A glossy patina, a crack of desication runs through the statuette.
The province of Lualaba had several close ethnic groups with similar associations. The Mbole and Yela are known for their statues, according to D. Biebuck, of the hanged, named ofika . The lilwa , an association with dogmatic initiation rites, had the custom of judging and sentencing those guilty of violations of the imposed rules to hang. These offences ranged from murder to adultery to breaking the secrecy surrounding the lilwa . Disgraced, the bodies of condemned men had no funerals and were buried in the forest. It was during the end-of-the-introduction ceremonies, presided over by a ...