Teke Kidumu mask
We know that the African art of the Stanley-Pool region is almost devoid of masks. The populations living there did not use it either to enhance the brilliance of their festivals, or to symbolize the spirits and ancestors during initiation and worship ceremonies.
However, certain Teke groups (Tsaye and Assi-Nséké), occupying a region located in the Franceville (Gabon), Mossendjo and Sibiti (Republic of Congo) triangle, made traditional dance masks for a secret society called Kidumu.
It is a politico-religious institution whose main characters are: the mfumu-a-ntsié, the ngan-ntsié and the dancer, wearer of the mask, virtuoso of individual acrobatic choreography.
Kidumu patronizes the major events in the life of society: circumcision, marriage of influential people, death of chiefs, alliances, judgments,...
The dancer, who performs alone at the end of the ceremonies, is accompanied by an orchestra made up of antelope horn players, drummers, trumpet blowers and singers.
Today Kidumu still dances; but its character is more folkloric than institutional. He was the "cement" of the Tsaye group at a time when migratory movements of all kinds presented a real danger to the homogeneity of the group.
These primitive art masks of lunar shape, flat, decorated with geometric patterns, colored with white and red earths, black and blue and brown (colors of vegetable origin), are pierced with holes on their periphery to which are attached : a woven raffia dress, feathers and raffia fibers, all partially concealing the wearer.
The back of the mask is sculpted with a three-sided rectangular bead, into which the dancer's face fits. In the center of the rectangle is pierced a pair of eyes which, on the front side, is practically invisible.
They were taken for lids of boxes or for "decorative panels".
02334
Data sheet
- Presumed dating
- Circa 1960
- Size
- 28 cm (42 cm with support)
- Ethnic group
- Material(s)
- Wood
- Country
- Origin
- Tribal art collection France
- Stand
- Included
- Condition
- Excellent
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We know that the African art of the Stanley-Pool region is almost devoid of masks. The populations living there did not use it either to enhance the brilliance of their festivals, or to symbolize the spirits and ancestors during initiation and worship ceremonies.
However, certain Teke groups (Tsaye and Assi-Nséké), occupying a region located in the Franceville (Gabon), Mossendjo and Sibiti (Republic of Congo) triangle, made traditional dance masks for a secret society called Kidumu.
It is a politico-religious institution whose main characters are: the mfumu-a-ntsié, the ngan-ntsié and the dancer, wearer of the mask, virtuoso of individual acrobatic choreography.
Kidumu patronizes the major events in the life of society: circumcision, marriage of influential people, death of chiefs, alliances, judgments,...
The dancer, who performs alone at the end of the ceremonies, is accompanied by an orchestra made up of antelope horn players, drummers, trumpet blowers and singers.
Today Kidumu still dances; but its character is more folkloric than institutional. He was the "cement" of the Tsaye group at a time when migratory movements of all kinds presented a real danger to the homogeneity of the group.
These primitive art masks of lunar shape, flat, decorated with geometric patterns, colored with white and red earths, black and blue and brown (colors of vegetable origin), are pierced with holes on their periphery to which are attached : a woven raffia dress, feathers and raffia fibers, all partially concealing the wearer.
The back of the mask is sculpted with a three-sided rectangular bead, into which the dancer's face fits. In the center of the rectangle is pierced a pair of eyes which, on the front side, is practically invisible.
They were taken for lids of boxes or for "decorative panels".