Superb Kifwebe mask - Songye - Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) (No reserve price)

Kifwebe Mask - Songye - DRC Zaire - African Masks
Bifwebe masks (kifwebe in the singular) are among the ceremonial objects of the society of the same name (bwadi ka kifwebe), which still plays a prestigious role among the Eastern Songye today.

The members of this society are the basha masende, holders of the knowledge needed to interact with the gods.
Bifwebe masks are worn with a long costume and a long beard made of plant fibers during the most important ceremonies.

The female mask, unlike the male one, the kilume (bilume in the plural), has no crest at the top of the head and features fine incisions painted white across the face.

The masks, colors, and costumes have symbolic meaning.
Each part of the mask’s face is associated with a particular animal, such as the lion, zebra, crocodile, or porcupine, whose behavior the mask imitates.

In addition, the colors express various character traits or states of mind.
For example, white symbolizes positive aspects such as purity, peace, the moon, and light; red is associated with blood, fire, courage, and strength, but also with destruction and negative magic.

The striations are a form of writing with a double meaning: the path or trail of the dead awaiting rebirth, while the nose, or its vertical axis, is the tree of life.

The mouth is said to be the bird’s beak or the sorcerer’s fire.

The mask has an imprecatory function. According to the Songye, someone with full lips is believed to speak loudly.

Fundamentally, female masks reflect positive forces: they are worn during nighttime dances, at the most important lunar ceremonies, or on the occasion of a chief’s investiture or death.

Male masks, which are more colorful, dance during the day