Tribal Art

Ex-collection of Belgian African tribal art.

The triangular face underlined by a beard is specific of the Bassikassingo style. Large almond-shaped eyes, a triangular nose, a reduced mouth. According to Daniel Biebuyck, the widespread use of ancestor figures would be the result of the presence of pre-Bembe hunters among these groups living on the western shore of Lake Tanganyika. Matt patina, abrasions.
Migratory flows have mixed within the same territories Bembe , Lega, Buyu (Buye) or Boyo , Binji and Bangubangu. The Bassikassingo Bassikassingo, considered by some as a sub-clan of the Buyu Buyu, are however not of Bembe origin although they live on their territory, as Biebuyck's work has allowed to trace their history. Organized in lineages, they borrowed the ...

This African mask with globular eyelids and a narrow pointed chin is one of the stylistic variants of the white masks of Gabon, itengi , (pl. bitengi). A skillfully braided hairstyle, gathered in shells, accompanies the headband limiting the forehead, on which is inscribed a single checkerboard scarification, mabinda , often tinged with red ochre. A chinstrap enhances the contours of the face. Abraded matte patina. In primitive art, this tribal mask of Gabon was associated with the various secret societies of Gabon, including the Bwiti, Bwete and Mwiri, the latter of which had several levels of initiation, to which all the Punu men belonged, and whose emblem was the caiman. The Punu did not use masks in the rituals of the Bwiti, unlike the Tsogo. These powerful secret ...

In Nigeria, the African masks gelede occur during the celebratory dances of the religious society gelede , and at the funerals of its followers. It is only in the regions of Nigeria bordering Benin and in Benin itself that these masks are sometimes accessorized with a ventral mask, such as this example framed by a couple of puppets clinging to the breasts. Matte red ochre patina.
The Gelede country in Nigeria pays homage to mothers, especially the eldest among them, whose powers would be comparable to those of the Yoruba gods, or orisa , and ancestors, osi , and which can be used for the benefit but also for the misfortune of society. In the latter case these women are called aje. Masked ceremonies, through performances using masks, costumes and dances, are supposed to ...

Former Belgian tribal art collection>As African art Punu and its African masks of ancestors.
This African mask of a rare type, intended for dance ikwara was used, according to Alisa LaGamma, during difficult palavers. This dark-coloured vigilante mask danced on small stilts. It is covered with crepe shells that men wore in Punu-Bayaka countries at the beginning of the 20th century. ( " Punu L. Perrois and C. Grand-Dufay, p.57, ed. 5Continents) A network of checkerboard or hatched scarifications are inscribed on the forehead, eyelids, and wide oblique band on the lower part of the face. A burgundy patina, where the abrasion zones reveal a light wood, covers the room. The mask was obviously worn.
High on a base: 45 cm.
The white masks of Gabon, itengi, (pl. bitengi) were ...

The Wé have produced African masks that are the result of interlocking stylistic forms. The Dan to the north, and the Wé (Krou group comparing to Guéré, Wobé bee -east and Wé Liberia called Kran or Khran), used frequent borrowings due to their proximity. The Wé were also renowned for their knowledge of plants for therapeutic use. Before the 1960s, masks, whose elaboration was inspired by the visits of spirits during dreams, accompanied most activities such as war, dance, singing, hunting. Each of these masks had a name associated with its function. It remained the property of the dancer's lineage.
This heavy mask would embody a fearsome spirit, a supernatural power, that of the forest. It would appear equipped with many accessories, during night outings, lit by the glow of ...

The triangle hairstyle is extended here with a straight nose, echoed by a tapered chin. The look is made up of rectangular incisions and a narrow mouth protrudes. The Lwalwa live near the Kasai River, between Angola and Zaire. Historically with a matrilineal society, the Lwalwa, after having been influenced by Luba and Songy, adopted a patrilineal system within their rudimentary political and social organization. The nkaki, wood-carved mulela mask, is one of four types of masks produced by the privileged caste formed by their sculptors: These craftsmen, according to their merits, can become conductors and organize dances, including the balango, (also bangongo) during which acrobatics are performed by young dancers. These masks, appearing at night to preserve women, are displayed or worn ...

Rare mask of the Songola, whose features spring from an irregular flat surface. It brings together various stylistic indicators of the surrounding tribes, including the eyebrow arches in the heart of the Lega and the quadrangular, toothed mouth, of the Kumu. The forehead is coated with kaolin now chipped, the eyes and mouth are also highlighted by the same clear hold. Satin medium brown patina.
Mtêlés by marriage to the Lega, Ngengele and Zimba, the Songola are ruled by the elders of the lineages. They borrowed from the Luba and Songye the institution Luhuna composed of dignitaries and that of the Bwami by their Lega wives. The Songola live on hunting and fishing, they are involved in sculpture, although the objects associated with the cult of Bwami come from the Lega. Among their ...

The Early African Arts at "the lightning people".Regional version of the voluminous and heavy royal Bwoom mask depicting the pygmy, the man of the people nicknamed Twa, devoid of beaded inlays, cauris or metal. Supposed to be blind, it is depicted without eyeballs, only discrete perforations were made in the sinking of the gaze. The center of the head, hollowed out in a circular way, is crowned with raffia. The back part has a hand engraved in low relief. According to Joseph Cornet, this mask was introduced during the reign of a kuba king, the nyim, who went mad after having the offspring of his predecessor murdered. Dark grainy patina. Fissures.The Kuba Kingdom was founded in the 16th century by the Bushoong which are still ruled today by a king. More than twenty types of tribal masks ...

Wearing a diamond of bent horns, this warrior mask is plated with large sheets of copper hammered and engraved with push, specific to the marka sculptures, which gives it an inflexible appearance. Strips frame the face, and one runs from the forehead to the tip of the nose. Brass plates hammered and engraved with push, specific to the marka sculptures, give an inflexible appearance to this warrior mask. These masks were used in the association of the N'tomo grouping uncircumcised youth, the frequent presence of horns symbolizing the degree of the nature of knowledge according to Serge Diakonoff.
Hightop on a base: 52 cm.
Marka, Maraka in Bamana, or Warka, are Muslim city dwellers of Soninke origin, based in southern Niger. They now speak bamana and have adopted much of the ...

Ex-collection French African artbr-Among the astonishing diversity of African masks of the Lega, this mask whose surface attests to prolonged use, with protruding eyelids, indicated the stage that its holder had reached within the Bwami, a learning company composed of different ranks, and joined by the wives whose spouse had reached the third level, that of the ngandu. Abraded patina, kaolin inlays. Beard of vegetable fibers.
Within the Léga, the Bwami society open to men and women, organized social and political life. There were up to seven levels of initiation, each associated with emblems. Following their exodus from Uganda in the 17th century, the Lega settled on the west bank of the Lualaba River in the DRC. Also called Warega, these individuals live in self-contained villages ...

A combination of sharp contrasting geometric patterns appears under the ritual coating of this African Janiform mask. A crest headdress unites the two faces. The painted motifs symbolize the magical amulets of the Bobo. The masks are repainted with each new season of dance. Some common characteristics are to be noted with some of the helm masks of the Markha, another Mandingo ethnic group.

These heavy masks, usually designed around a hemispherical helmet with a crest or horned growths, were used in agricultural rituals to restore the balance of the earth. Their significance was revealed during the initiation of young boys. The Bobo Fing are a Mandingo people, most of whom live in the east of Burkina Faso, but also in the south of Mali. Their culture is similar to that ...

Divided into large contrasting stripes, this songye mask has an imposing sagittal crest. The eyelids stretch towards the temples. Like a beak, the parallelepiped mouth is projected. Patina matte abrased. Desication crack. Height on a base: 110 cm.
This types of African Kifwebe masks are listed: the masculine (kilume) usually with a high crest, the feminine (kikashi) would present a more modest or absent crest, and finally the greater embodying power (kia ndoshi). In the 16th century, the Songyes migrated from the Shaba region to settle on the left bank of the Lualaba. Their society is organized in a patriarchal way. Their history is inseparable from that of the Luba to whom they are related through common ancestors. The Songyes have created impressive statues with powerful features ...

Mixed by marriage to the Lega, Ngengele and Zimba, the Songola or Babili, or Goa, are ruled by the elders of the lineages. They borrowed from the Luba and Songye the Luhuna institution composed of dignitaries and that of Bwami by their Lega wives. The Songolas live on hunting and fishing, they are involved in sculpture, although the objects associated with the cult of Bwami come from the Lega. Among their reduced statuary, the figures of ancestors of the Nsubi society evoke those of the Mbole, other sculptures were kept in baskets as in the Lega. The masks such as our copy were used during the initiation rites Nsindi.Sculpted in dense wood, its anthropomorphic features combine with the detail of small feline ears appearing in relief above the orbits. Uneven, partially glossy surface, ...

Worn by the circumcised youth of the Mukanda society at the end of their several-month initation, this mask embodies a male royal ancestor, Sachihongo . In Zambia, masked traditions include a series of specific masks distinguished by their character, behaviour and appearance. Among the Chokwe, Luvale, Lunda, Luchasi and Mbunda of Zambia they are named makishi , (sing. likishi), while in Angola and R.D.C. they are known as makishi (sing. mukishi).
The sculptor will not name the mask and his costume as such, but rather 'the head', and the 'body' to define the masked entity. The dancer, embodying the ancestral spirit, will not be held responsible for his actions during the masked demonstrations. The likishi Sachihongo represents virility, power, prosperity and fertility.
The ...

Of Lunda origin, the Lwena emigrated from Angola to Zaire in the 19th century, repelled by the Chokwe. When some became slave traders, other groups found refuge in Zambia, forming the Luvale , Lovale . Their society is matrilineal, exogamous and polygamous. The Lwena and Luvale have become known for their sculptures depicting figures of deceased ancestors and chiefs, and their masks related to the initiation rites of the mukanda, a secret male association shared by all these groups on the same territory, with some variants however. Their sculpture was largely influenced by that of the Chokwe.The masks of the Chokwe, Luda, Luvale/Lwena, Luchazi and Mbunda clans are named in Zambia by the "makishi" (sing. likishi). This name comes from "kishi", a Bantou concept that evokes the manifestation ...

This African mask was used by the nganga, soothsayer priest. A mediator mask, also present in the initiation processes, it was also used by the fetishist during healing rituals. At the same time, it could be used to identify individuals who, through their actions, could disturb the harmony of the community. Light wood with a patina of kaolin of which there are still some film residues.
In the 13th century, the Kongo people, led by their king Ne Kongo, settled in a region at the crossroads of the borders between present-day DRC, Angola and Gabon. Two centuries later, the Portuguese came into contact with the Kongo and converted their king to Christianity. Although monarchical, the Kongo political system had a democratic aspect because the king was actually placed at the head of the ...

Ex-collection Belgian African art. br>This circular African mask, says junior, has protruding eyes and offers a rectangular mouth in which a dentition is chiseled, in reference to the traditional image of teeth in young people. The female kplekple mask, according to some authors (African Barbier-Mueller Masks, p.116) is said to be red. Vogel (Baule) indicates, however, that in the Baoulé version of the Goli the male mask is painted red, and the feminine in black. It is likely that this allocation varies from village to village. Grainy matte patina. Abrasions and restoration of horns. Height on suitable base: 108 cm.
Dedicating the manifestation of a series of family masks Goli, this circular mask with rounded horns evoking the antelope, is considered in some cases as a male mask, ...

Among the first art masks, this mask named Nsembu occurred in male-female pairs, and was used by the society of soothsayers Nkunda at the clans living in the north of the Uituri region. The surface is coated with a polychrome dotillage, an allusion to the animal world, and the color pigments that adorn the bodies during the initiation rites. Patine mate. Height on suitable base: 44 cm.

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 ...

Among the Gurunsi, the Lela, Winiama, Nuna and Nunuma are the main mask sculptors. They influenced the style and meaning of the masks of their neighbors Mossi and Bwa. Several animals can be represented: buffalo, antelope, warthog, hyena, calao, snake and crocodile and their combined attributes. The board extends from a stylized bird mask with a rectangular bifide beak. The ornamentation is carefully engraved on each side of the mask: the black triangles allude to the footprints of the hooves of the antelopes and the growths symbolize the beaks of the calao, associated with divination and magic. Mate patina, locally flaky, erosions at the top.
These masks were worn by the members of the village, completely hidden under clothing made of vegetable fibres, during the ritual dances. The ...

The Ti-wara, Ci wara, in African art.
This would be an animal - genius called Ciwara who would have taught the Bambara to cultivate the land. The latter recall the myth through the stylized representation of a hipporague antelope, whose name ci wara signifies of the earth. In addition to a decoration engraved with fine geometric patterns, the end of the horns is wrapped in leather and hair. Successive arches feature the wide neckline with a mane. The characteristics allow it to be attributed to the stylistic canons of the Ségou region. Light brown patina.
Ported to the top of the skull and held in place by a sort of small basket, these cimiers accompanied the dancers during the rituals of the tion , an association dedicated to agricultural work. The masks bound the field as ...

This African Dan mask is a variation of the Deangle. The look here is enhanced by a strip of textile strapped with metal, like the hemmed eyes. The ajar lips that reveal teeth form a protruding diamond. Very fine raffia braids form a hairstyle plated at the top of the forehead, from which protrude laterally two short mats. The patina is shiny, glossy. Splends on the upper outline.
Dan masks, of varied design, usually occur during highly theatrical entertainment parties where women play a leading role. The so-called Mask, called Deanglé, defines an ideal of beauty and benevolence because it is carved in honour of the village's young girls or renowned men. Also used during circumcision rites, they appear in the company of the gle s and the large go ge masks relating to the go ...