CONGO DRC

LARGE LEGA BWAMI IDIMU MASK

The contour of the heart-shaped face is hemmed
as well as the eye contour

The beauty of this mask is accentuated by the kaolin and the long raffia beard

Idimu masks are significantly larger than Lukwakongo masks, but stylistically very close
These are collective masks used during ceremonies for high-ranking people of the Bwami, an association that organized the social structure and ensured the stability of the Lega community.
This type of mask was used as part of the cult of the Bwami, an association that organized the social structure
and ensured the stability of the Lega community.

The Lega are a Bantu forest people of Central Africa, established in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), 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).

MATERIAL: Wood, vegetal fibers

DIMENSIONS: (wood only) About 10 1/4 Inches high 26 cm (Wood only)
22 inches (56 cm) with the beard

CONDITION: Medium
Please have a look on the pictures. 

The 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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