Tribal Art

African polychrome mask offering a certain "cubist" structure. The center is carved with large eyelids placed obliquely, extended by a geometric nose and mouth. The lower part of the face continues in a very slightly concave flat tint. Deep colored grooves emphasize the volume of the skull and the flatness of the cheeks.
The term Kifwebe designates the mask, the society of masks, and the wearer of the mask belonging to the male secret society bwadi bwa kifwebe which ensured the social control. Matte polychrome patina, erosions. Cracks.
In the 16th century, the Songyes migrated from the Shaba region to settle on the left bank of the Lualaba, in Katanga and Kasai. Very present in their society, divination made it possible to discover sorcerers and to shed light on the causes of the misfortunes that struck individuals. The masked performances of male masks provided an opportunity to carry out punitive expeditions and maintain social order. The female masks, supposed to be equipped with divinatory faculties, activated by their dances the benevolent spirits.