Unique Songye Kifwebe Male Mask

Offering the finest quality Sub-Saharan African Zaire Songye Kifwebe Male Mask. This Kifwebe Society, Songye, D.R. Congo mask, has stylized facial features with strong lines and angles, signs of age and use. Aproximately 20" high by 8" wide. 

"Kifwebe masks are made for the Bwadi Bwa Kifwebe association, a type of policing society that provided a means of controlling social behavior and neutralizing disruptive elements within the group. These masks appeared at the installation and death of a chief, and at the initiation rites of young men as well as a whole range of occasions that included punishments, warfare and public works. There is great variety and symbolism within the various Kifwebe masks. More than thirty different mask names have been recorded. Several have animal names while other masks have names of illnesses like leprosy or names denoting natural phenomena. "