CONGO DRC

 

LEGA Bwami Lukwakongo Mask

Beautiful heart-shaped face mask bleached with kaolin Eyes are cowry-shaped, the mouth is barely suggested
Cross-shaped scarifications on the forehead and cheeks

Lukwakongo maskettes are small and light wooden masks belonging to high-ranking members of the Bwami (rank Yananio)

This type of mask was used in the cult of the Bwami, a level society whose rites were reserved for the initiates. This association organized the social structure and ensured the stability of the Lega community.
 
  The Lega are a Bantu forest people of Central Africa,
established mainly in the east of the Congo Drc, east of the Lwalaba River (the Congo River), up to the altitude in the Mitumba Mountains,
in the provinces of South Kivu and Maniema.

 

Characteristics:

TYPE OF OBJECT: Mask.

ETHNICAL GROUP: Lega .

ORIGINE: Democratic Republic of Congo.

DRC (ex Belgian Congo, ex Zaïre).

MATÉRIAL: Wood

DIMENSIONS: About 6 Inches high
CONDITION: Medium
Please have a look on the pictures. 

Base is NOT included

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BIBLIOGRAPHIE / BIBLIOGRAPHY :

- LEGA. ETHIQUE ET BEAUTE AU COEUR DE L'AFRIQUE. DANIEL P. BIEBUYCK. 2002. KBC.

- JOYAUX LEGA DE LA COLLECTION BENOIT ROUSSEAU. VIVIANE BAEKE, MRAC ET BENOIT ROUSSEAU. 2013. BRUNEAF.

- A LA RECHERCHE DU SENS DU BWAMI, AU FIL D'UNE COLLECTION PAS COMME LES AUTRES. VIVIANE BAEKE. SANS DATE. MUSEE ROYAL DE L'AFRIQUE CENTRALE

- LA SCULPTURE DES LEGA. DANIEL P. BIEBUYCK. 1994. GALERIE HELENE ET PHILIPPE LELOUP- PARIS-NEW-YORK.

- THE ARTS OF ZAIRE, VOL II EASTERN ZAIRE. DANIEL P. BIEBUYCK. 1986 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA PRESS.

- L'ART DES LEGA D'AFRIQUE CENTRALE, ELIZABETH L. CAMERON. 2013. MUSEE DU QUAI BRANLY.

- LEGA CULTURE. ART, INITIATION AND MORAL PHILOSOPHY AMONG A CENTRAL AFRICAN PEOPLE. DANIEL P. BIEBUYCK. 1973. UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA PRESS.

- LES LEGA ET LEUR ART. SUR LES TRACES D’UN REVEUR EGARE AU CONGOLAND. EMILE-ALEXANDRE GEORGES. 2005. MUSEE ROYAL DE L'AFRIQUE CENTRALE.

- L'ART LEGA - GRANDEUR ET HUMILITE. DANS LA COLLECTION VALLIER (2016, VALENTINE PLISNIER ET MICHEL BOULANGER)

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