-40%

Hemba Tribe Soko Mutu Chimpanzee Mask From DRC

$ 36.96

Availability: 100 in stock
  • Refund will be given as: Money Back
  • Condition: Used
  • Restocking Fee: No
  • Country/Region of Manufacture: Congo, The Democratic Republic of the
  • Culture: African
  • All returns accepted: Returns Accepted
  • Item must be returned within: 30 Days
  • Handmade: Yes
  • Time Period Manufactured: 1600-1900
  • Return shipping will be paid by: Buyer

    Description

    Hemba tribe wooden Mask,
    Primitive
    art
    from
    DRC
    (
    Congo
    , Zaire)
    Type of Object: Wooden
    Mask
    Materials: Wood
    Country of Origin: Democratic Republic of the Congo
    Dimensions: Height:
    9.5
    Inches. Width:
    6
    Inches.
    People:
    Hemba
    “During the 18th century, the Hemba people, led by their chief Niembo, migrated from the south-west and settled on the right bank of the Lualaba River, in a region of fertile savannah. Today, they number 80,000 and are divided into large clans which, by definition, are families with a common ancestor. The hereditary chief of each clan is called the Fumu Mwalo and is the keeper of the ancestor figures. He renders justice and his status as clan head means that he has a privilege of receiving numerous gifts. The Hemba live mostly from farming manioc, sesame, yams and beans. Secret societies such as Bukazanzi for the men and Bukibilo for the women counterbalance the Fumu Mwalo’s power.
    Two types of Hemba mask have been identified so far: the first is the rarest and displays a perfectly symmetrical human face with a small mouth and a linear nose set between two slanted eyes. The second type of mask imitates a monkey face with a large, pierced, crescent-shaped mouth and pointed nose. The function and meaning of these masks remain obscure.”
    Source:
    Baquart, Jean-Baptiste. The Tribal Arts of Africa. New York: Thames and Hudson Inc. 1998. Print.
    This listing is for the mask only, it does not include a stand. If you want a stand, contact me and we can make one for you for .