Mask - Africa (No reserve price)

Appearing in the middle of the night, often in large numbers and illuminated by flickering torches, the bearers of these imposing masks could provoke a staggering fear. 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 purifying fire, symbolized by the figure of the gorilla, an animal both respected and feared in Fang culture. The Ngil ceremonies included chants, dances and invocations to the ancestors, seeking to purify the community of malign influences and acts of sorcery. The masks, worn by initiated men, were essential to channel this purifying power.

The judicial role

Beyond their spiritual role, the Ngil masks also had a judicial function. The members of this secret society, under cover of night and protected by the anonymity of their masks, designated those guilty of wrongdoing 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 of the Ngil's ruthless justice.