A ferocious expression for this red patina mask. Quadrangular gapes for the eyes and mouth still lined with scattered animal teeth, bulging shapes for the forehead and nose, form a striking effect. A soft, grainy agglomerates, highlighting the openings. Beautiful abraded patina. Among the first art masks, this African mask named Nsembu performed in male-female pairs, and was used by the soothsayer society Nkunda within the clans living in the northern region of Uituri. The Kumu, Bakumu, Komo, live mainly in the North-East and Central Democratic Republic of Congo. Their Bantu language is komo or kikomo. Several ethnic groups are closely intertwined, with similar associations: the Mbole, the Yela, the Lengola, and the Metoko. Their artistic production also has great similarities with that of the Metoko and Lengola. Their divination masks were displayed during the closing ceremonies of the initiation and circumcision of the young people of the society nkunda . It was in the Maniema region around the Lualaba River and the Great Lakes that Lega sculpture exerted its influence extensively. A costume made up of bark textiles and plant fibres concealed the wearer. Biebuck would have noticed a great similarity between the rituals accompanying the appearance of Kumu masks and those of muminia masks of the Lega.
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