BEMBE Alunga Helmet Mask Mask "Ecwabuka ya alunga (the head of Alunga) or Echwaboka (Pol Pierre Gossiaux)
It is obviously old, quite small (31cm) for a mask of this type, I have only come across two of this size so far
It represents a bush spirit, m'ma mwitu, and is used within Alunga society, during ceremonies for accepting new members as well as in hunting rites.
These large cylindrical and janiform helmets with oversized eyes are regularly compared to representations of owls; there are also dances where the mask plays this role.
According to Hahner-Herzog, the two faces are meant to invoke the all-seeing nature of the mask's spirit, an ability that allows it to reconcile opposing forces of nature, such as masculine/feminine or day/night.
PP Gossiaux adds the notions of positive/negative, the cardinal points, the four crucial hours of the day (6 a.m., 12 p.m., 6 p.m., midnight)
The Bembe are established in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, north of Lake Tanganyika. (Not to be confused with the Beembe who are sometimes also spelled Bembe and who are a people of the Kongo group)
They consider themselves descendants of the Lega, to whom they are culturally close. Thus, the Bwamè of the Bembe has many points in common with the Bwami of the Lega.
Features: OBJECT TYPE: Mask
ETHNICITY: Bembe.
ORIGIN: Democratic Republic of Congo.
(Ex Belgian Congo, ex Zaire).
MATERIAL: Wood.
DIMENSIONS: Height 31 cm
CONDITION: Average
(See photos)
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Bibliography - Bibliography - The Bwame of the Babembe Leopard (Kivu-Congo), Pol-Pierre Gossiaux, ULG 2000-2006
- Masks in Congo, Viviane Baeke, Baeke, Arthur Bourgeois, Kellim Brown, David Binkley, Rik Ceyssens, Marc Leo Felix, Pol Pierre Gossiaux, Manuel Jordanl, Constantin Petridis, Zoë Stroher, Julien Volper, Pan Yanqin. Edition Marc Leo Félix, 2016
- 100 peoples of Zaire and their sculpture. The handbook for collectors, scholars and students, Mar Leo Felix, Brussels: Zaire Basin Art History Research Foundation, 1987 Page 33
- "Masks of Africa", William Fagg, Fernand Nathan, 1980
- Persona. Masks of Africa. Hidden and revealed identities, Anne-Marie Bouttiaux Editions 5 Continents & RMCA (Tervuren Museum)
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CONGO DRC
Bembe Alunga Helmet mask. "Ecwabuka ya alunga" (the head of Alunga)
Or Echwaboka (PP Gossiaux)
It is clearly old, quite small (12 1/4 inches - 31 cm) for a mask of this type, I have only come across two of this size so far
It represents a spirit of the bush, m'ma mwitu, and is used within the Alunga society, during ceremonies for the acceptance of new members as well as in hunting rites.
These large cylindrical and janiform helmets with disproportionate eyes, are regularly assimilated to representations of owls, (there are dances where the mask plays this role)
According to Hahner-Herzog, the two faces are meant to invoke the all-seeing nature of the mask's spirit, an ability that allows it to reconcile opposing forces of nature, such as masculine/feminine or day/night.
PP Gossiaux adds the notions positive / negative, the cardinal points, the four crucial hours of the day (6 a.m., 12 p.m., 6 p.m., 24h)
The Bembe are established in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, north of Lake Tanganyika. (Not to be confused with the Beembe who are sometimes also spelled Bembe and who are a people of the Kongo group)
They consider themselves as the descendants of the Lega to whom they are culturally closed. Thus, the Bwamè of the Bembe has many points in common with the Bwami of the Lega.
Features:
TYPE OF OBJECT: Mask.
ETHNICAL GROUP: Bembe.
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Democratic Republic Congo
(ex Zaire, ex Belgian Congo).
MATERIAL: Wood.
DIMENSIONS: About 12 1/4 inches high.
CONDITION: Medium - Light smell
Please have a look on pictures.
