CONGOLESE LEGA BWAMI SOCIETY LUKWAKONGO MASK. Lega mask with a simple yet expressive feature; it is made of wood, and is characterized by a concave, heart-shaped face, a delicate nose, small slit-like eyes, and a slightly open mouth. The surface is rubbed with white kaolin clay, symbolizing the ancestors, the spirits, and the purity and morality of the Bwami teachings. Hand carved and decorated Lega mask which is a ceremonial object from the Lega people of the Democratic Republic of Congo. A Lega mask, known by various names such as lukwakongo, idimu, or lukungu depending on its type and level, is a badge of rank and a powerful tool for teaching and social control. The masks are not worn over the face to change the wearer's identity. Instead, they are displayed in a variety of ways during Bwami ceremonies. They may be attached to a fence, piled in stacks, held in the hand, or, on rare occasions, worn on the forehead with a raffia beard draping over the face. - height: 12.5 inches. Estimate $200-300
