34 - Two-horned mask

Two-horned mask Wood, traces of kaolin, original patina, and signs of wear; raffia on the back Lega, Democratic Republic of the Congo 38 x 9 cm without the raffia Two short, pointed horns crown this mask, giving it a distinctive silhouette. The concave, heart-shaped face is whitewashed with kaolin; the eyes, stretched into thin slits, the long, straight nose, and the small, open mouth give it a serious and introspective expression. A long, braided beard extends from the chin and accentuates the slender appearance of the mask as a whole. Among the Lega people of eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, social life revolved around the bwami, a multi-tiered initiatory society. Each rank, attained after passing trials and receiving knowledge, entitled the initiate to specific ritual objects, including masks. This mask was not worn; during initiations, it was affixed to a palisade alongside other insignia. Accompanied by sung maxims, these masks served as mnemonic devices for the values of the bwami, and their possession marked the holder’s progression through the initiatory hierarchy. General Bibliography: Daniel P. Biebuyck, *Lega Culture: Art, Initiation, and Moral Philosophy among a Central African People*, Berkeley, University of California Press, 1973.