Kifwebe mask, Songye, HUGE 40 INCHES! African Start Price USD 590.00 Current Price USD 590.00 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Sunday, July 20, 2008 End Time Sunday, July 27, 2008 Location Denver, CO See more about 'Kifwebe mask, Songye, HUGE 40 INCHES! African' Description Kifwebe maskSongyeDemocratic Republic of the CongoWood, pigmentsHeight is 40 inches.This is the most famous of the Songye masks, made for the Bwadi Bwa Kifwebe Secret society. "Kifwebe" means "Mask" in the Songye language. The face generally is covered with linear incisions which are sometimes pigmented, the mouth is most often square and protruding. If it has a central crest, it is masculine; if not, feminine. The size of the crest determines the magical power of the mask. During initiation, circumcision, or funeral ceremonies. For examples, and more information, see Bacquart's TRIBAL ARTS OF AFRICA and Cornet's A SURVEY OF ZAIRIAN ART-THE BRONSON COLLECTION. According to Hersak (1985: 168): 'The striated masks, or kifwebe, are used as agents of a tradition and figures of authority to exercise social and political control through practices of evil magic and witchcraft by the members of the bwadi bwa kifwebe society. Among the societies' public performances, three mask types exist: two grades of male and one female mask. Male masks are distinguished by a striated pattern of three colors while the female one is predominantly white with the features accented in black and some red... The Kifwebe tradition which exists also among the Luba, seems to have originated south of the eastern chiefdom in an area of Luba/Songe admixture. The Songe confirm this provenance by the interpretation that the kifwebe striations relate (apart from the zebra) to a pugnacious species of striped bushbuck antelope which inhabited the area. **019237** All content, including pictures, Copyright Africa Direct Inc., 2006 Add Us To Your Favorite Sellers! Please visit our About Us page. SquareTrade © AP6.0 PesaMember Place a Bid!