Lega Bwami Society Mask - Lega - Warega - DR Congo

There are about 150,000 Lega people living in autonomous villages in the forests of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Their main industries are fishing, farming, and hunting. For the Lega, every artwork is associated with proverbs that, as part of a ritual combination of poetry, dance, art, and song, bestow wisdom upon the members of society. Lega sculpture conveys the ethical, social, and political values of Lega culture. Both men and women in Lega culture enter the ancient Bwami society to learn life skills and wisdom that are taught to initiates through art. With five levels for men and three for women, Bwami is a voluntary association open to all Lega, and its influence is intended to encompass the breadth of a person’s life. As the Lega say: “It’s something that sticks and leaves a trace.” Most men and women progress to the beginner levels of Bwami, but few reach the highest rank, known as Kindi. Character, kinship support, and participation in initiations determine one’s advancement in Bwami. This lifelong educational process requires years of study with respected teachers and the successful completion of a series of initiation rites that combine music, dance, gestures, proverbs, and the visual arts. While the initiate interprets a precise combination of these elements, their knowledge of Bwami truths is revealed and their achievements are celebrated.