African Arts Gallery

According to Marc Léo Félix, the masks produced by clans living in the north of the Uituri region often have stylized features on a shallow surface, and their décor evokes the animal world, with color pigments similar to those that adorn the bodies during initiation rites. Similar masks, decorated with dotted lines, were worn in Ubangi by the Ndunga and Zande of the north-east, where insiders and elders sometimes wore this type of body paint.
Light, kaolin and ochre wood on a brown background. Insect prints.
The Kumu , Bakumu, Komo, live mainly in the North-East and Central Democratic Republic of Congo. Their Bantu language is komo or kikomo. Several ethnic groups are closely intertwined, with similar associations: the Mbole, the Yela, the Lengola, and the Metoko. Their ...

According to M.L. Félix, African masks produced by clans living in the north of the Uituri region mostly adopt stylized features sculpted on a shallow base, and their décor evokes the animal world, with color pigments similar to those that adorn bodies during initiation rites. Similar masks, decorated with dotted lines, were worn in Ubangi by the Ndunga and Zande of the north-east, where insiders and elders sometimes wore this type of body paint. Clear pigments applied to the finger on a brown background. velvety surface. Total height on a base: 43 cm
The Kumu , Bakumu, Komo, live mainly in the North-East and central democratic Republic of Congo. Their Bantu language is komo or kikomo. Several ethnic groups are closely intertwined, with similar associations: the Mbole, the Yela, the ...

This mask where the spectacular play of full and void forms a balanced volume comes from the Ituri forest in northern Maniema. The amplitude of the nose and the ovoid shape of the upper part are enhanced by these geometric gapes expressing ancestral fears. Irregular satin surface.
Total height on adapted base: 52 cm.
The Kumu , Bakumu, Komo, live mainly in the North-East and Central Democratic Republic of Congo. Their Bantu language is komo or kikomo. Several ethnic groups are closely intertwined, with similar associations: the Mbole, the Yela, the Lengola, and the Metoko. Their artistic production also has great similarities with that of the Metoko and Lengola. Their divination masks were displayed at the closing ceremonies of the initiation and circumcision of the young ...

The Kumu , Bakumu, Komo, live mainly in the North-East and Central Congo. Their Bantu language is komo or kikomo. Several ethnic groups are closely intertwined, with similar associations: the Mbole, the Yela, the Lengola, and the Metoko. Their artistic production also has great similarities with that of the Metoko and Lengola. Their divination masks were displayed at the closing ceremonies of the initiation and circumcision of the young people of society nkunda . It is in fact in the Region of Maniema around the Lualaba River and the Great Lakes that the Lega sculpture has exerted its influence. This flat mask, very rare, whose forehead and nose form the only relief adopts simple gaping orifices for the organs of the eyes and mouth. A suit made up of bark textiles and vegetable fibres ...

Ex-african art french collection.
The Kuba are renowned for the refinement of prestige objects created for members of the high ranks of their society. The Lee live in the west of the Kuba kingdom and share common cultural characteristics with the Bushoongs of the Kuba country. Several Kuba groups produced anthropomorphic objects with refined motifs, including cups, drinking horns and cups. The highly organized and hierarchical kuba society placed a king or nyim inspiring the statuary of the ethnic group. This was considered to be of divine origin. Both head of the kingdom and the chiefdom bushoong , he was attributed supernatural virtues from witchcraft or ancestors. He therefore ensured the sustainability of his subjects, whether through harvests, rain or the birth of ...