Lwalwa
Democratic Republic of CongoMask, Early 20th century
On view
Wood, pigment
Dimensions14 x 10 in.
Museum purchase with funds from the Collection Endowment, 2021.2
Carved from a wood called mulela and colored with a dye made from the fruit of the mukula, Lwalwa masks are identifiable by their geometric, almost Cubist-like style. The masks are distinguished from one another by their variations of noses, inspired by the beaks of different birds. Worn only by men, the masks had an important function in the bangongo dance of the hunting ritual. When hunters returned empty-handed, the ancestors would be appeased by organizing a dance. The masks were also used in a secret ritual of the Bangongo society, in charge of the initiation and circumcision of young men. The choreography of masked dances was highly complex and had to appease the spirits of the ancestors, compelling them to intervene.
