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This intimidating mask was made by the Songye
group of what was once Zaire. While possessing
elements of traditional Songye design, it is
atypical and therefore unusual. It is based around
a tall, domed head, narrowing to a square jaw. It
is dominated by massive, round eyes which are
further accentuated by pigmentation of the rims,
and the addition of glass beads to the
circumference of the iris. The eyeholes are
beneath each eye, so it could have been worn.
The face is covered with linear incisions that
sweep downwards and backwards, except for the
top of the head – which remains smooth – and
the centre of the face, which is formed into a
large, parrot-like beak. This is not usual for these
masks, which usually have a square or triangular
mouth profile. The effect is finished off with small,
white-painted ears, set well back on the head.
The circumference of the piece is perforated with
small holes, implying that it was worn with a
textile or raffia costume. Patination is an irregular
handling gloss, with some breaks and non-
disfiguring damage.
The Songye people are based in the Democratic
Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire). They were
founded in the 16th century following an exodus
from the neighbouring Shaba area, settling near
to the Lualuba River. There are around 150,000
Songye divided into subgroupings that are under
the governorship of a central chief known as the
Yakitenge. More local governance is in the hands
of chiefs known as Sultani Ya Muti. Their
economy is based upon agriculture and
pastoralism.
The Songye are perhaps best known for their
artworks, which are both institutional and
domestic/personal in nature. These include
wooden figures that are usually decorated with
feathers and other organic materials, and which
are known as Bishimba. Large-scale and
important pieces are created for use by members
of the Bwadi Bwa Kifwebe, particularly including
masks. The word kifwebe means “mask” in
Songye, and describes long-faced creations
decorated with curvilinear designs. Crested
examples are male, plain-topped ones (like the
current example) are female. These are brought
into “conflict” during the masquerade, the male
acting aggressively, the female more demurely;
the significance of this seems to be that the male
scares people into social conformity, while the
female instills familial values. The faces of these
two characters find their way onto other, secular
items pertaining to the Bwadi Bwa, including
staffs, shields and stools.
Research into this unusual combination of
features has proved to be inconclusive. There are
some examples of “rooster kifwebe” with the
beak format, but these are invariably male rather
than female. Furthermore, the quality of the
rendering far exceeds anything in the literature. It
most strongly resembles an owl, especially in
terms of the large eyes and the white "ears", but
there is no mention of such a tradition for the
Songye. In any case, its rarity cannot be doubted.
This is an impressive and powerful piece of
African art. .
- (PF.3951 (LSO))
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