Mask, Rare and extremely fine Kifwebe / Bifwebe male mask

Rare and extremely fine Kifwebe / Bifwebe male mask Central Africa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Songye peoples, ca. first half of the 20th century CE. A hand-carved Kifwebe ("mask" in the Songye language) of a highly abstract form featuring protruding hollow eyes that flank a prominent nasal crest that extends towards the carved-out verso and indicates the male gender. A rectangular column projects outward beneath the triangular nose with a recessed mouth, and wide wavy bands that course across the mask are painted in an alternating pattern of natural colour pigments. Smooth patina has developed in areas of missing original pigment. The piece is in great condition for its age, showing positive signs of handling from having been danced in. Retains the nasal animal hair. The most well-known masks of the Songye culture are Kifwebe masks worn in connection with the secret society known as the Bwadi Bwa Kifwebe. According to African and ethnology experts Iris Hahner-Herzog et al. , "Bifwebe (sing. Kifwebe) masks belong to the accoutrements of a society of the same name that to this day enjoys extreme respect among the eastern Songye. The society includes individuals with supernatural power (basha masende) who are believed to manipulate spirits by means of magical techniques. The masks, supplemented by a woven costume and a long beard of raffia bast, dance at various ceremonies. They are worn by men who act as police at the behest of a ruler, or to intimidate the enemy in case of war. " (Hahner-Herzog, Iris, Maria Kecskesi, and Laszlo Vajda. "African Masks from the Barbier-Mueller Collection, Geneva. " Prestel Verlag, Munich, 2002, p. 212.) The piece is mounted on a fine custom made wood base metal stand. Provenance: Ex-private Collection South Africa, acquired in the 1970s Private Collection, London, UK