Mask - Mbangu - Pende - DR Congo

Mbangu mask (illness mask), Pende, Kongo.

The mask is recognizable by a contrast of white and black that halves the face, and by a general distortion of the facial features, especially the twisted nose and the twisted mouth. The color white, a symbol of the spirits of the dead, in this instance stands for the hope of healing from illnesses. The dark pigment represents the disease that haunts one for a lifetime. The combination of black and white symbolizes this struggle.