Certificate: Rare Old African Ngbaka Mask - Congo.

Old African Ngbaka mask from Ubangi, Northern Congo.

Size: 27 cm high.

This Ngbaka mask is dated mid 20th century and comes with a certificate of authenticity.

Ngbaka masks from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are traditional works of art created by the Ngbaka people, an ethnic group primarily residing in the southwestern region of the DRC. These masks are significant artistic expressions of Ngbaka culture and spirituality.

Ngbaka masks are characterized by their figurative aesthetic and distinctive artistic style. They are generally designed to be worn on the face during ceremonies and rituals. These masks depict stylized human figures with expressive facial features, such as eyes, noses, and mouths. They are carved from wood and richly decorated, often with local materials such as shells, textiles, plant fibers, and paint.

These masks have important ritual and cultural functions within Ngbaka society. They are used in dance ceremonies, religious rituals, rites of passage, and other cultural events. Dancers wearing these masks perform specific dances, imitating the movements and behavior of the characters depicted. Masks are also associated with spiritual beliefs and are used to communicate with ancestors and spirits.

In addition to their ritual role, Ngbaka masks are also admired as works of art in their own right. Their distinctive aesthetic, artistic creativity, and connection to Ngbaka culture make them attractive objects for African art collectors and art lovers worldwide. They are exhibited in museums and art galleries to highlight the richness of Ngbaka culture and the diversity of traditional African art.
This figure originates from the culturally dynamic northwestern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo along the river systems feeding the great Congo River, especially from the Ngbaka or Ngbandi.

The Ngbaka moved into the area inhabited by the Ngbandi within a region bounded by the Ubangi and Lualaba River systems, and as a result, both groups share sculpture forms and scarification details, which often lead to some confusion regarding the attribution of their sculptures.

Ngbaka use anthropomorphic figures, generally in pairs, to represent mythological and distant family founders known as Seto, a male, and Nabo, his wife, who are kept on family shrines. Ngbaka figures take their red color from being washed in palm oil and red tukula powder made from tree bark.

The facial features are divided by a vertical line of scarification that, in other figures, extends onto the lower body. The shaping of the body details is truly a study in sculptural inventiveness. Ngbaka sculptures are typically anthropomorphic figures, often depicted in pairs, and hold significance in representing mythological and ancestral figures known as Seto (male) and Nabo (female). These sculptures are kept on family shrines and are associated with the Ngbaka people's spiritual beliefs.

Scarification is another important aspect of Ngbaka sculpture. The facial features of the figures are divided by a vertical line of scarification, which in some cases extends onto the lower body. Scarification is a form of body modification involving the creation of decorative or symbolic patterns on the skin through controlled scarring. The presence of scarification on Ngbaka figures adds to their distinctive aesthetic and cultural identity.

The Ngbaka people demonstrate remarkable skill and sculptural inventiveness in shaping the details of the body in their sculptures. The craftsmanship and attention to detail in Ngbaka art reflect the cultural significance and artistic traditions that have been passed down through generations.

Overall, the Ngbaka sculptures serve as tangible representations of their cultural heritage, mythologies, and ancestral connections. They are not only visually captivating but also hold deep cultural and spiritual meanings within the Ngbaka community.