These masks were worn by members of the powerful “Ibuku” society. The fearless “buku” required initiates to produce the head of an enemy or individually kill a lion or leopard. Masks were also used to evoke ancestor spirits and frighten the enemy in battle. Height : 42 x 25 cm…
Songye panel with Named after the men’s society and its mask, Kifwebe controlled the behavior of women and children and collected and redistributed wealth.
The figure builds a bridge between the visible and the invisible, the sacred and the profane, the living and the dead, the traditional and the modern. It appeared at healing rituals and protected against illness or magic spells. Height : 46 x 14 cm Materials : Wood Provenance : Private…