Description
LEGA BWAMI MASK Democratic Republic of the Congo Wood and horse mane H: 27 cm Provenance: -LILI VANDEL -Bernard FIX NOTE In the forests of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, art is primarily created for semisecret associations of men and women, such as the Bwami society of the Lega people. The teachings of Bwami influence every aspect of life, guiding individual moral development and governing social relations. Bwami doctrine is represented through wooden and ivory masks, heads, and small figures, which play crucial roles during initiations into the society's highest grades. Although simple in form, these carvings embody complex and multiple meanings, conveyed through proverbs, skits, and dances. The masks symbolise ancestors and are passed down from one generation of initiates to the next, representing continuity. For the Lega, physical beauty and moral excellence are inseparable.
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LEGA BWAMI MASK Democratic Republic of the Congo Wood and horse mane H: 27 cm Provenance: -LILI VANDEL -Bernard FIX NOTE In the forests of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, art is primarily created for semisecret associations of men and women, such as the Bwami society of the Lega people. The teachings of Bwami influence every aspect of life, guiding individual moral development and governing social relations. Bwami doctrine is represented through wooden and ivory masks, heads, and small figures, which play crucial roles during initiations into the society's highest grades. Although simple in form, these carvings embody complex and multiple meanings, conveyed through proverbs, skits, and dances. The masks symbolise ancestors and are passed down from one generation of initiates to the next, representing continuity. For the Lega, physical beauty and moral excellence are inseparable.
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