Songye Kalebwe Kifwebe Kikashi mask
The famous Kifwebe mask in African art
This African mask bears the name of kifwebe in reference to the bwadi bwa kifwebe society to which it belongs. It danced during secret rites and was worn and kept only by notables.
The absence of a marked summit crest allows it to be identified as a female kikashi mask, wearing features imbued with softness, unlike male kilume masks with more aggressive features and a high crest.
Kifwebe masks exist in the Songye, Luba, and Kalebwe cultures and their subgroups. Their stylistic characteristics vary greatly from one region to another: shapes, thickness of the streaks, colors, treatment of the eyes, mouth and nose, etc.
This one approaches the southern Kalebwe in the region of Kamana.
01227
Data sheet
- Presumed dating
- Circa 1970
- Size
- 40 cm
- Ethnic group
- Material(s)
- Wood, kaolin
- Country
- Origin
- Tribal Art Collection Luxembourg
- Condition
- Excellent
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The famous Kifwebe mask in African art
This African mask bears the name of kifwebe in reference to the bwadi bwa kifwebe society to which it belongs. It danced during secret rites and was worn and kept only by notables.
The absence of a marked summit crest allows it to be identified as a female kikashi mask, wearing features imbued with softness, unlike male kilume masks with more aggressive features and a high crest.
Kifwebe masks exist in the Songye, Luba, and Kalebwe cultures and their subgroups. Their stylistic characteristics vary greatly from one region to another: shapes, thickness of the streaks, colors, treatment of the eyes, mouth and nose, etc.
This one approaches the southern Kalebwe in the region of Kamana.