African Arts Gallery

Gabon and African art.

Divated into opposite zones of contrasting colors, this deep ovoid mask has features from which emanates a certain serenity. It is a judicial mask of the Okukwé society, worn for funerals, the birth of twins, or other major events. Patina matte abrased. Cracks and erosions.
The Galoa (or Galwa), a subgroup Pounou , live downstream from Lambaréné on the Ogooué River, bordering the Atlantic Ocean. They are named 'the people of the lake'. They produced masks named Okouyi, Okukwé, used by initiation societies to reveal witchcraft and their authors through divination. Several neighbouring ethnic groups, including the Adouma and Kota, use contrasting colour flats in Gabon, including kaolin that is supposed to have apotropaic virtues. Groups in Gabon ...

Former Galoa mask from Gabon. The Galoa (or Galwa) living downstream of Lambaréné on the river Ogooué.
This is most likely a mask of twins. Surmounted by a cap, mask is slender with a red forehead symbol of life and the lower part of face white.
Note that the mask is compet with its adornment of raffia.

African art Galoa.
This shallow African mask has a smooth, velvety surface on which polychrome triangular patterns and kaolin points have been applied. The brow bone, whose rib is outlined in white, overcomes folded eyelids recalling the masks Bakwele and Vuvi. A narrow mouth forms a very slight bulge. This type of mask is used by Okukwé initiates from the Lower Ogoué Lake District to unveil wizards. It is after a divination rite that the mask will proceed to the appointment of the culprit. They were also exhibited at the funeral of chiefs or exceptional events such as the birth of twins. The Galoa (or Galwa), neighboring tribe of Punu, Pounou, live downstream of Lambaréné on the Ogooué River.