Lega kayamba masker - League - DR Congo

The Lega are an ethnic group found in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The art of the Lega people is primarily created for their semi-secret associations of men and women, such as the Bwami society of the Lega people. The teachings of Bwami are a cornerstone of all aspects of life, guiding the moral development of the individual and regulating relationships with others. The Bwami doctrine is represented by masks, heads, and small figures of wood and ivory, all of which play a vital role during initiation into the highest levels of society. Lega masks refer to ancestors and are passed from one generation of initiates to the next as symbols of continuity. Lega masks were used for instruction and initiation ceremonies, ceremonial rites at the various progressive levels of the Bwami society, the association through which Lega men rise with lifelong deeds and often learn through the hierarchy. These horned masks, known as Kayamba masks, are used only in a few regions of Lega land in the DRC — they are thus rare masks. They are usually owned by skilled teachers. They are used by both men and women in ceremonies with song, drama, etc. The following mask is made of light wood and has a brown patina and shows good signs of age and use.