Mask - Africa (No reserve price)

Emerging in the middle of the night, often in large numbers and illuminated by flickering torches, the bearers of these imposing masks could evoke a striking terror. The kaolin, applied to achieve a dazzling whiteness, symbolizes the power of the ancestors, thus giving the masks a formidable sacred aura. The stylized faces of the masks evoke idealized human features.



The rite of purification

The Ngil is a social ritual but also a rite of the purifying fire, symbolized by the figure of the gorilla, an animal both respected and feared in Fang culture. The Ngil ceremonies included songs, dances, and invocations to ancestors, aiming to purify the community from harmful influences and acts of witchcraft. The masks, worn by initiated men, were essential for channeling this purifying power.



The judicial role

Beyond their spiritual role, the Ngil masks also had a judicial function. Members of this secret society, under the cover of night and protected by the anonymity of their masks, designated those guilty of wrongdoings within the village. This judicial practice served to maintain order and reinforce moral and social norms. The presence of the masks was a constant reminder of the vigilance of the ancestors and the relentless justice of the Ngil.