African tribal artifacts.
African Lele tribe mask, attenuated face. Cut raffia hair. Natural hair beard. Cowrie shell and bead trim.
AGF414 African Lele tribe mask, attenuated face. Cut raffia hair. 19"h
$1,000.00
African Lele tribe mask, attenuated face. Cut raffia hair. Natural hair beard. Cowrie shell and bead trim.
This is an older piece, precise age uncertain. Acquired 1996 from Hamidu Sellah, a trusted African importer. Carver unrecorded.
19" high, including stand.
Face masks like the one shown here are augmented with full-body costumes to complete the manifestation of spirits that serve as intermediaries between the Supreme Being and the people.
Masking ceremonies and dances are usually associated with manhood initiations and funerals, events of great significance to the people.
19” high #AGF414
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Additional Info
The Lele people are a Kuba subgroup from the Democratic Republic of Congo. They originally lived along the Kasai River. The agricultural system they practice leads them to create temporary villages as they move every decade or so. Before the 1920s, when the White Belgian colonial administration had not been established, the Lele mostly engaged in conflicts with other groups over women. They did not quarrel with other tribes or raid other villages for anything other than women. Any big debt or disagreement was settled by handling over a woman. So, why men should kill each other for any other reason than women were involved was a puzzle to them.