Statuette - Songye / Drc

This statuette has a Kifwebe Kilume mask characteristic of Songye productions. The large eyelids stretched towards the temples and the presence of a high rounded naso-frontal crest tells us that the mask of the statuette is a Kifwebe. Its parallelepiped mouth underlines the important Songye aesthetic that inhabits this statuette. A tricolor range underlines the Forms. We know that three variants of this kind of Kifwebe mask (meaning “chasing away death”) exist: the male (kilume) generally with a high crest, the female (kikashi) with a very low crest and finally the largest embodying power (kia ndoshi). They are worn with a long costume and a long beard made of natural fibers which is perfectly reconstituted in reduced size to dress this statuette. Ingredients of various origins were introduced into the abdomen of these statuettes and fetishes but sometimes also in sachets attached to the loincloth, in order to reinforce the power of the object.Textiles, feathers and necklaces were also attributes necessary to guard against witchcraft.