Songye Kifwebe Mask - Democratic Republic Of The Congo

The Songye are a Bantu people of central Africa who settled in the south-east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Famous for their artistic productions, and in particular for the famous striped "Bifwebe" masks, and for the "Nkishi" fetishes. Bifwebe masks (kifwebe in the singular) are part of the ceremonial objects of the homonymous society (bwadi ka kifwebe) which still plays a prestigious role among the eastern Songye. The members of this society are the basha masende, who have the knowledge to interact with the deities. Bifwebe masks are worn with a long robe and a long beard in vegetable fiber, during the most important ceremonies. The female mask called kilume (plural bilum), unlike the male one, does not have a crest on the top of the head and has fine white-painted incisions on the face.
The wood of this mask was dated 1932 +/- 6 from the Museum of Arts and Sciences in Milan, an instrument that, with stylistic expertise, can determine its authenticity and great value.