The Luba in south-east Congo also know – just as their neighbours, the Songye – the male secret society ‘Bwadi Bwa Kifwebe’. This secret society fulfils police functions and appears at initiations and funerals. During these events, its members wear such ‘Kifwebe masks’ and full body costumes out of fibres. On the more common ‘Kifwebe masks’ of Songye, the eyes, noses and mouths frequently stand out, and the typical lines in relief display strong colour contrasts (see cat. no. 98).
In contrast, the rarer ‘Kifwebe masks’ of the Luba are much more round in shape, sometimes perfectly circular, and their mask faces, with the characteristic lines in relief, are mostly uniformly coloured black-brown. Occasionally they are provided with calm, white surfaces or with smaller, white accents. As, for example, on the present ‘Kifwebe mask’ of the Luba, the small, white areas around the slit eyes. Otherwise this beautifully designed piece is uniformly coloured dark brown. Including its oval chin area, elongated far below, the central bulge from the top of the head to the tip of the nose, over the small, protruding mouth. The pattern of fine, narrow relief lines is very accomplished; the lines cover the entire surface within a smooth outer border. The wave forms in the mid-section are noteworthy. Carved in a thin piece of hard wood. A crack to the top of the head bears an original repair with rattan stripes. Only minimal breaks to the relief grooves and fastening eyelets on the chin, as a result of protracted use of the mask costume. Otherwise no damage. Good and partially shiny patina at the front and behind.
Height: 44 cm; width: 24 cm.
First half of the 20th century. (ME)

Provenance:
French private collection.

Lit.:
‘The Tribal Arts of Africa’ by Jean-Baptiste Bacquart, p. 156, ill. 1.