Panya Ngombe mask
African Pende art
The African Pende mask Panya Ngombe is a symbolic and inescapable work of art among the Pende, its ritual use allowing for the reception of initiations into the male brotherhood and the right to receive homage.
Following the rite of circumcision, Panya Ngombe circulated, collecting gifts from subordinate chiefs and fathers of initiates. Since the colonial state required circumcision at birth, the mask itself has become rare, more often depicted on the lintel of the door of the chief's house than represented.
Among the formidable array of Pende masks, the human and the animal are often linked, and in West Kasai one particular type seems to share a masquerade and architectural function.
The lateral elongation of the Panya Ngombe masks relates to the wild cow/bull (or buffalo) which itself has mainly associations and was danced by a masquerader in obviously royal dress, although this particular dancer (in a paradoxical role reversal to be expected in Pende masking traditions) is the one who collects the offerings at the end of initiation festivities.
There are greater examples of this type of mask than the ritual itself would require. These are called kenene and were used to decorate the lintels of the houses of great chiefs.
---Published collection of masterpieces from the Raskin collection---
Provenance: A. Raskin, expatriate engineer in Zaire (1925)
Publication: Object published in the book - SCULPTURE, Masterpieces from the Raskin Collection.
01716
Data sheet
- Presumed dating
- Mid XXth century
- Size
- 23 cm
- Ethnic group
- Material(s)
- Wood
- Country
- Origin
- A. Raskin, Belgium
- Stand
- Included
- Condition
- Excellent
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African Pende art
The African Pende mask Panya Ngombe is a symbolic and inescapable work of art among the Pende, its ritual use allowing for the reception of initiations into the male brotherhood and the right to receive homage.
Following the rite of circumcision, Panya Ngombe circulated, collecting gifts from subordinate chiefs and fathers of initiates. Since the colonial state required circumcision at birth, the mask itself has become rare, more often depicted on the lintel of the door of the chief's house than represented.
Among the formidable array of Pende masks, the human and the animal are often linked, and in West Kasai one particular type seems to share a masquerade and architectural function.
The lateral elongation of the Panya Ngombe masks relates to the wild cow/bull (or buffalo) which itself has mainly associations and was danced by a masquerader in obviously royal dress, although this particular dancer (in a paradoxical role reversal to be expected in Pende masking traditions) is the one who collects the offerings at the end of initiation festivities.
There are greater examples of this type of mask than the ritual itself would require. These are called kenene and were used to decorate the lintels of the houses of great chiefs.