Lega Mask, Bwami Society, Democratic Republic of the Congo

lukungu
height 11 1/4in (28.5cm)

Provenance
French Private Collection

African Heritage Archives (no. ao-0027505)

This lukungu mask is deeply hollowed in the back with rounded front and heart-shaped face. The eyes are slit with swollen lids and slightly downcast. The nose is long and linear then broadens and flattens out at the nostrils which are defined by small holes. The mouth is slit open and slightly protruding. The perimeter is pierced through once just above eye level on either side, and then multiple times around the lower half below the line of the nose; varied light and dark brown weathered surface with kaolin highlights on the front.