African Arts Gallery

African masks Lwalwa, Lwalu.
It is near the Kasai River that the Lwalwa live, between Angola and Zaire. Historically having a matrilineal society, the Lwalwa, after being influenced luba and songye, adopted a patrilineal system within their rudimentary political and social organization. The male mask nkaki, nkaaki, carved from wood mulela, is one of four types of masks produced by the privileged caste formed by their sculptors. These craftsmen, according to their merits, can become conductors and organize dances, including the balango, during which acrobatics are performed by young dancers. These masks are then displayed, or worn during initiation ceremonies, or to soothe the spirits after an unsuccessful hunt.
A conical hairstyle painted with geometric patterns overcomes a ...

The aesthetics of African art Lwalwa.

This is near the Kasai River that the Lwalwa live, between Angola and Zaire. Historically with a matrilineal society, the Lwalwa, after having been influenced by Luba and Songy, adopted a patrilineal system within their rudimentary political and social organization. The nkaki male mask, carved in mulela wood, is one of four types of masks produced by the privileged caste formed by their sculptors. These craftsmen, according to their merits, can become chefs and organize dances, including the balango, during which acrobatics are performed by young dancers. These masks are then displayed, or worn during initiation ceremonies, or to soothe the spirits after an unsuccessful hunt.

A conical headdress with geometric patterns ...

The masks Mfondo and Nkaki , with a barely dissimilar nasal profile, are difficult to differentiate, but the Mfondo would have a nose associated with the calao losing in the hairstyle. In this case the nasal ridge develops at the top of the forehead. Tricolour patina in light browns with dark satin. Shard on the top edge.
This is near the Kasai River that the Lwalwa live, between Angola and Zaire. Historically with a matrilineal society, the Lwalwa, after having been influenced by Luba and Songy, adopted a patrilineal system within their rudimentary political and social organization. The nkaki, wood-carved mulela mask, is one of four types of masks produced by the privileged caste formed by their sculptors: These craftsmen, according to their merits, can become conductors and ...

pure symmetry for this African mask where a conical hairstyle incised with geometric patterns overcomes an imposing rectangular nose. The look, stretched, is made up of rectangular spaces highlighted by grooves. The chin ends in a point under a geometric mouth. The hollow of the ears is encased with red ochre pigments. Velvety light brown patina.
It is near the Kasai River that the Lwalwa live, between Angola and Zaire. Historically having a matrilineal society, the Lwalwa, after being influenced luba and songye, adopted a patrilineal system within their rudimentary political and social organization. The male mask nkaki, carved in wood mulela, is one of four types of masks produced by the privileged caste formed by their sculptors: These craftsmen, according to their merits, ...

This tribal statuette has a head with the features of the Nkaki mask, whose busted nose evokes the beak of the calao. A pointed chin completes the concave face. The pupils are pierced in the center of the eyes simply drawn. This sculpture participated in fertility rites and ceremonies supposed to appease geniuses, mediating spirits between the group and their ancestors. The detail of the digitized hands and feet brings a neat note to this piece characterized by a beautiful balance between the width of the shoulders and the lower limbs, at the back between the relief of the shoulder blades and the pelvis. Beautiful dark patina, sained. Very slight cracks and abrasions.
The Lwalwa live between Angola and Zaire, between the Kasai River and the Lweta. Historically having a matrilineal ...