
Ashione Gallery
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We Speak African Art!
Songye, Congo. Wood Pigments, striations.
Height: 20"
This mask is called the Kifwebe mask and is one of the better known masks of the people of the Congo. Quite imposing in appearance, it had striations (ethnographic sign/symbols) which oral history informs may have represented either the antelope, the founding spirit's path or of the difficulties and unpredictability of life's details (or perhaps all of the above!), which initiates had to go through!
There seems to be two kinds of Kifwebe masks, the male, which has a crest and a female, without. This one without the crest is thought to be female. Kifwebe mask was said to have been assigned many duties, some of which were, to heal (keep death at bay!), ward off disaster or threat, for a royal's commemoration or for welcoming important dignitaries to the village.
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- Home
- About Us
- Earrings
- Bracelets
- Necklaces
- Pendants
- Rings
- Darling Creatures
- Market Place
- Paintings
- Textiles, Furniture & Vessels
- Fetish & Power Based Objects
- Masks, Sculptures & Artifacts
- Gift Certificates & Gift Cards
- 'Ntoried Expressions!
- Terms and Conditions of Sale
- Methods of Payment
- Shipping
- Copyright Information
- Privacy Policies
- Benefits
- Ashione-yan
- Moments and Memories
- Contact Us
- Blog
- The Meaning behind African Power Masks