Lega Lukwakongo mask
€175.00
African Lega masks are ritual objects of the Bwami society among the Lega, a Bantu people of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
For the Lega, art is inseparable from moral education: the Bwami is an initiatory institution that teaches ethical values, social hierarchy, and exemplary conduct through rituals, proverbs, and carved objects.
Among these objects, the lukwakongo are small miniature wooden masks, characterized by a heart-shaped face often coated with white kaolin and eyes resembling coffee beans.
They are not worn on the face, but rather attached to the arm, displayed on palisades, or held during ceremonies, particularly during initiations into higher Bwami ranks.
The lukwakongo are not merely decorative objects: they are insignia of rank and moral symbols that embody ideals such as authority, generational continuity, and commitment to the community.
They are passed down among initiates, sometimes even displayed after the wearer's death before being handed over to a chosen successor within the Bwami society.
Shipping fees
02602
Data sheet
- Presumed dating
- Mid XXth century
- Size
- 13 cm (20 cm with support)
- Ethnic group
- Material(s)
- Wood
- Country
- Origin
- Tribal art collection Belgium
- Stand
- Included
- Condition
- Vintage
You might also like
African Lega masks are ritual objects of the Bwami society among the Lega, a Bantu people of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
For the Lega, art is inseparable from moral education: the Bwami is an initiatory institution that teaches ethical values, social hierarchy, and exemplary conduct through rituals, proverbs, and carved objects.
Among these objects, the lukwakongo are small miniature wooden masks, characterized by a heart-shaped face often coated with white kaolin and eyes resembling coffee beans.
They are not worn on the face, but rather attached to the arm, displayed on palisades, or held during ceremonies, particularly during initiations into higher Bwami ranks.
The lukwakongo are not merely decorative objects: they are insignia of rank and moral symbols that embody ideals such as authority, generational continuity, and commitment to the community.
They are passed down among initiates, sometimes even displayed after the wearer's death before being handed over to a chosen successor within the Bwami society.