The Teke-Tsaye (or Tsaayi) people live in the northwesternmost area of Congo, on the Gabon border. Its male secret society, called ‘Kidumu’, was responsible for all major events in the life of the village communities: initiations, weddings and funerals. At the conclusion of the aforementioned rituals, a single ‘Kidumu dancer’ always performed with this disc-shaped, flat mask (whilst it is used more for entertainment, today). The present, typical ‘Kidumu mask’ is manifestly one of the rare, old specimens: almost round, horizontally divided in two halves at its centre and offset, the front side with highly abstract motifs in relief, coloured in white and red-brown. Painted over due to age. With a short, large nose, and two small eye slits for the dancer. With a large, dominant set of elongated eyes. Surmounted by a reptile (lizard or crocodile?) in relief. In the lower section a round mouth and round cheeks. Along the mask rim are other symbols in relief, six white segments of circles as well as many holes to which the dancer’s costume of plant fibres and feathers was attached. The front as well as the black-dyed back side of the 'Kidumu mask' display good, old usage patina. Small areas of age damage: colour scuffed, four fastening eyelets broken. First half of the 20th century; H: 43 cm, W: 41 cm. (ME)

Provenance: Austrian private collection.

Literature: 'Die Kunst des schwarzen Afrika' by Kerchache, Paudrat, Stephan, ill. 166; 'Encyclopedia of African Art and Culture' by K.-F. Schädler, ill. p. 326.

Additional photo:
Photo from ‘BATÉKÉ’, Paris, Musée National des Arts d´Afrique et d´Océanie