Mask - Lega - DR Congo (No reserve price)

Mask (Bwami, Lukungu) (wood 26 cm)
Lega peoples
In the forests of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, art is created mainly for semi-secret associations of men and women, such as the Bwami society of the Lega peoples. The teachings of Bwami permeate all aspects of life, guiding the moral development of individuals and regulating relationships with others. The Bwami teachings are represented through masks, heads, and small figures made of wood and ivory, all of which play an important role in initiation into the highest classes of society. Although the form is simple, these carved objects embody complex and diverse meanings, which are illustrated through proverbs, sketches, and dances. The masks refer to ancestors and are passed down as symbols of continuity from one generation of initiates to the next. For the Lega, physical beauty and moral excellence are inseparably linked.