mask, kiwoyo

The Georg von Békesy Collection, page 182-183. Wooden dance mask The Eastern Bapende live in a large L-shaped area on the Loange and Kasai rivers, in the middle of wich lies the Katundu chiefdom wich is the acknowledged place of origin of most of their best masks, including this mask, probalbly that known as kiwoyo (or in Katundu itself nzamba, "elephant", the traditional name or title of the chief).The meanings of the various names and types of masks are not now very clear, but it would appear that those with the long projection of the jhin are connected with hunting, particularily of small birds. The projection is described by the Bapende as mutumbi, "the chin," and not as the beard (for wich raphia is attached to the holes along its edges). This a beautiful mask, and the treatment of the lozenges along the centre line is a most unusual and ingenious way of taking advantage of the play of light while the mask is in motion. by Willian Fagg, The Georg von Békesy Collection, page 182-183.