Tribal Art

Uncommon variant of the tsogho mask, with a rectangular face topped with a single shell. The arch of the eyebrows, ample, overhangs the features concentrated on the flat face. Cracks, aureoles, erosions.
Neighboring tribe of the Pounou or Punu , the Tsogo , Mitsogo traditionally farmers (slash-and-burn agriculture), matrilineal, are renowned for their very elaborate rituals of religious practice, and particularly of initiation, including the bwiti or the mwiri for men, and the nyembe for women. They live on the right bank of the Ngoumé River. The function of their African masks is essentially the propitiation of the spirits of the ancestors and divination through the use of hallucinogenic medicinal plants. Their masks are kept at the back of the ebanza house where ...

This ancient African Dogon mask refers to the hippotrague antelope. The backward curved horns are reminiscent of the walu, an animal linked to the Dogon cosmogony. The cubic and partitioned face, pierced with asymmetrical pupils, reveals a narrow mouth. Locally chipped crusty dry patina. Desication cracks.
Alongside Islam, Dogon religious rites are organized around four main cults: the Lébé, relating to fertility, the Wagem, cult of the ancestors under the authority of the patriarch, the Binou invoking the world of spirits, and the Awa mask society regarding funerals. The "dama" is a ceremony dedicated to restoring the order of things following bereavement. It was originally to protect themselves from the "nyama" (soul) of the victim that the Dogon carved a mask in the image of ...

Housed in the ventral capsule blocked by a window of this kneeling figure, the bilongo (or bolongo), an amalgam of offensive or defensive magic ingredients, reinforces the powerful symbolism associated with the character's vengeful attitude. Indeed, not only does his devious face express an aggressiveness supported by the hollowed-out mouth and the trance gaze, but the detail of the dorsal ribs could indicate, according to W. MACGAFFEY in Treasures of Africa, a respiratory disease lubanzi.
Abrasions of the crusty polychrome patina.

The Vili, the Lâri, the Sûndi, the Woyo, the Bembé, the Bwende, the Yombé and the Kôngo formed the group Kôngo , led by King ntotela. Their kingdom reached its peak in the 16th century with the ivory, copper and slave trade. Similarly, beliefs ...

Emblematic of the sculpture of the Lubas of the east along the Luvua River (D.R.C.), this type of African mask of semi-globular structure presents similarities with the masks of the Songye. However, they did not have the same function. These African masks are called "bifwebe". They appeared during funerals and investitures. The surface is decorated with streaks coated with white clay. Two-tone patina.
These masks appeared during the ritual ceremonies of the kazanzi society, responsible for fighting witchcraft. "Bifwebe" (Sing.: kifwebe) would moreover mean, according to C. Faïk-Nzuji, "to chase death". Worn with a voluminous ruff of raffia and animal skins that concealed the dancer, these masks were generally danced in the company of a zoomorphic mask. For the Luba, white ...

Among the wide variety of African masks Punu, this copy without scarification is topped with double shells framed with braids. These white masks from Gabon called bitengi (sing.: itengi) were performed especially at funerals and during the initiations of young boys. Matte patina. Abrasions, lacks.
Height on base: 47 cm.
The masks of the Punu were associated with the various secret societies of Gabon, including the Bwiti, Bwete, and the Mwiri ("to lead"), the latter spanning several levels of initiation, to which all Punu men belonged, and whose the emblem was the caiman. The Punus did not involve any mask in Bwiti rituals, unlike the Tsogo. These powerful secret societies, which also had a judicial function, included several dances, including the leopard dance, the Esomba, ...

Subject anchored on a circular base, presenting a cut. The integumentary ornaments of the sculpted character, meticulously engraved, express the concept of beauty of the Baoulé, constant in traditional African art: numerous scarifications in checkerboards and sophisticated hairstyle. Black satin patina, desiccation cracks.
About sixty ethnic groups populate Côte d'Ivoire, including the Baoulé, in the center, Akans from Ghana, people of the savannah, practicing hunting and agriculture just like the Gouro from whom they borrowed ritual cults and masks carved. Two types of statues are produced by the Baoulé, Baulé, within the ritual framework: The Waka-Sona statues, "being of wood" in baoulé, evoke a assié oussou, being of the earth. They are one of a type of statues intended to be ...

Representing a hybrid creature, or a masked dancer, whose head recalls the animal masks of groups in southwestern Burkina Faso, this animal sculpture is supported by stick-like growths. She embodies a spirit of the bush. Heterogeneous matte, chipped patina.
Among the Gurunsi, the Lela, Winiama, Nuna and Nunuma are the main mask carvers. They influenced the style and meaning of the masks of their neighbors Mossi and Bwa. These African masks depicting spirits of the bush came out during ritual dances and were worn by members of the village equipped with integral plant fiber outfits that covered the body. The tribal ritual was supposed to bring fertility and prosperity to the village, provided it was performed correctly. These masks were also used during funeral ceremonies of ...

A hallucinogenic bark, the ebanza, allowed the wearer of this type of mask to enter a trance suitable for developing mediumistic abilities. Songs accompanied his appearance. Cracks, gritty kaolin residue, abrasions, native restorations (staples).
Height on base: 47 cm.
Akin to the African Okuyi masks of the Punu ethnicities of the Shira tribes, the African masks produced by the peripheral groups, Vuvi, Galoa and Mitsogho, are also covered with white pigments for apotropaic purposes. The oblique visor headdress, reminiscent of a capillary fashion in the Shira group, constituted the frontal part of a coffered hairstyle. Devoid of scarifications, this African mask has narrow protruding eyelids, a triangular nose and a diamond-shaped mouth that seems to whistle. Break. Grainy ...

This African Lobi mask, angular, in black iron, illustrates the inflexible character of the warrior. Within slight bulges, the eyes, nostrils and mouth have been nicked. An anthropomorphic, minimalist figure rises at the top. The metal has acquired a grainy rusty patina.

The populations of the same cultural region, grouped together under the denomination " lobi ", form a fifth of the inhabitants of Burkina Faso. Few in number in Ghana, they have also settled in the north of Côte d'Ivoire. The Lobi believe in a Creator God named Thangba Thu , whom they address through the worship of many intermediary spirits, the Thil , these the latter being supposed to protect them, with the help of the diviner, against a host of plagues. From Various sacred altars are erected around the ...

Ce type d'objets en métal, nommé Suu ou encor So, était utilisé comme moyen de paiement (point par exemple) dans la partie nord-est du Nigéria, et dans certains groupes à l'Ouest du Cameroun.
Epaisse patine croûteuse ocrée.
Population d'origine bantoue établie au sud-est du Nigéria, mais également au nord-ouest du Cameroun frontalier, près des Mfunte (ou Wuli) des Grasslands, les Mambila (" les hommes" en fulani), qui tirent leur subsistance de l 'agriculture et de l'élevage, ont produit des statues incarnant les ancêtres, associées à la fertilité et la prospérité, et des masques-heaumes pour les cérémonies clôturant la saison des semailles. Les objets cultuels des Mambila, utilisés par les nombreuses et puissantes associations initiatiques, participaient en outre aux ...

Besides the African face masks worn during mapiko dances and ngoma ceremonies that educate young people about the demands of marriage and life As a family, the Makonde also produce naturalistic body masks depicting the female bust, such as this rare and spectacular life-size example.
Young Makonde boys and girls must submit to a period of seclusion of about six months, during which they are taught songs, dances and practical activities. The rules of behavior in adulthood, sexual life and the obligations of marriage are discussed. This initiation ended with festive ceremonies featuring male midimu (sing. ndimu) dancers. The latter, wearing a female mask paired with a costume whose ensemble is called amwalindembo, mimicked the suffering accompanying childbirth.
Patina of ...

Among the African masks Punu, this example offers a face topped with two spaced vertical shells, extended laterally by quilts. Devoid of the traditional "mabinda" checkerboard scarifications, this mask called itengi (plural: bitengi) was used during funerals and initiations of young boys. Velvety matte patina.
Height on base: 43 cm.
The masks of the Punus were associated with the various secret societies of Gabon, including the Bwiti, Bwete, and the Mwiri ("to lead"), the latter spanning several levels of initiation. These powerful societies, which also had a judicial function, included several dances, including the leopard dance, the Esomba, the Mukuyi, and the Okuyi dance, on stilts, remaining the most widespread. . This whitewashed kaolin face mask, evoking a deceased ...

Sculpture depicting a priestess or a follower with a face marked with "kpélé" vertical scarifications.
Chipped orange patina. Crack, abrasions.
Yoruba society has several associations whose roles vary. While the male egbe society reinforces social norms, the aro unites the farmers. The gelede has more esoteric and religious aims. Notables come together in a society called esusu. Offering cups, some of which were used to store kola nuts or other gifts for visitors, were once placed in royal palaces in the Ekiti and Igbomina regions of Yoruba country. The kingdoms of Oyo and Ijebu arose following the disappearance of the Ifé civilization and are still the basis of the political structure of the Yoruba . The Oyo created two cults centered on the Egungun and Sango societies, ...

These primitive coins in the shape of a large hoe, in large format, were used for offerings, as a wedding dowry and of course for major festive and ceremonial occasions. The Anga tribes of the Jos plateau in northern Nigeria offered this type of object as a dowry to the father of the future wife. These coins also had a ceremonial function during the celebration of the union. However, some attribute these particular shaped coins to the Afos, a neighboring tribe established below the Jos plateau. The Afos speak a Benue-Congolese language: Eyoli. Two parts stand out, a narrow handle and the lower part of a rectangular shape called the shovel shape which is also found in the Mambilas.
The oxidation of old iron offers a grainy orange patina.

Statue depicting a woman wearing a helmet mask. Polychrome satin patina. Erosions.
The Western Pende live on the banks of the Kwilu, while the Eastern settled on the banks of the Kasaï downstream from Tshikapa. The influences of neighboring ethnic groups, Mbla, Suku, Wongo, Leele, Kuba and Salempasu imprinted on their large tribal art sculpture. Within this diversity, the realistic Mbuya masks, produced every ten years, take on a festive function and embody different characters. The masks of initiation and those of power, the minganji, represent the ancestors and occur successively during the same ceremonies, agricultural festivals, initiation and circumcision rituals mukanda , enthronement of the leader. Governed by heads of families, the Djogo, with a priestly function, the ...

Diversité des masques animaliers chez les Dogon.
Plus de quatre-vingt types de masques Dogon ont été répertoriés, la majorité utilisée par les initiés circoncis de la société Awa, au cours de cérémonies funéraires. L'Awa désigne les masques, leurs costumes, et l'ensemble des Dogons au service des masques. Le "nyama", force vitale du masque, est activé par différents rituels afin de développer tout le potentiel magique de l'objet. Le masque Ko des Dogon fait partie de trois types de masques singes : Dege figure un babouin et les masques Ko et Omono représentent des singes grivets . Les singes se nourrissent de fruit du baobab et des épis de mil qu'ils volent dans les champs. Ce masque tribal était porté avec une jupe en fibres de sansevière qui dissimulait le danseur. La ...

African art and tribal cult vodun the ewe and fon
sking sculpture depicting a woman standing, arms without hands glued to the bust, is draped up to the bust of a colorful cotton wool. The waist and head are coated with indigo crusty pigments and kaolin residues, and clumped plant fibers. An opening at the top of the head introduced the magic charge. Splashed matte patina.
As african fetishes are part of rituals according to the intentions of their owner. The fetishists, following the divination ritual of fa using palm nuts, make them to order to offer protective and medicinal virtues but also offer versions ready to use more conventional.


The Ewe, often mistaken for the Minas, are Togo's largest ethnic group. They are also found as minorities in Ghana, Benin, ...

Ex-collection African art Belgian
Rare and old Ti-wara, crest mask of African art.
Toque attached to a basketwork frame with cotton strips. It is surmounted by a sculpture depicting the body of an antelope. The head is missing. Clear patina of use, erosions and abrasions. Desication cracks.
It would be an animal - genius called Ciwara who would have taught the Bambara to cultivate the land. The latter remember the myth through the stylized representation of an antelope, whose name ci wara means "wild of the earth". Worn at the top of the skull and held in place by a kind of small basket, these crests accompanied the dancers during the rituals of the tòn, an association dedicated to agricultural work. The masks traversed the field while leaping in order to drive out ...

Ibeji, substitute images in African art
This effigy reflects African Yoruba sculpture. Anointing residues remain locally crystallized.
Shiny mahogany patina, indigo highlights.
In the language of the Yoruba people, ibeji means twin: ibi for born and eji for two< /i>. They represent the figure of a deceased twin. This ibedji is then treated as the missing child would have been. It is the mother who must take care of him; she can wash and feed him regularly. If she dies, the remaining twin takes over.
It also happened that a man had ibeji carved for his wife in order to encourage pregnancy, the object becoming a support for fertility. Support for the soul of the twin, the ibeji influences the life of the family, becoming a source of benefits for his parents, the latter ...

It is through various secret societies that the Bambara initiates will acquire their knowledge, including that of Koré, targeting the elders and during which this mask intervenes. Kore society is divided into eight classes of initiates, the sixth of which is that of the hyenas, or surukuw.

The bulbous forehead of the mask is surmounted a horn which would symbolize the tuft of hair removed after the death of the animal. The prominent forehead refers to intelligence. .
Abrasions from use and cracks.

Established in central and southern Mali, in a savannah zone, the Bambara, "Bamana" or "unbelievers", as the Muslims have named them, belong to the large Mande group, with the Soninke and the Malinke. The Bambara nyamakala artisan groups, more specifically the ...

African zoomorphic mask, worn on the head. This mask refers to the antelope. Polychrome decorative motifs.
Matte patina, abrasions and desication cracks.
The African art sculptures of the Bobo, Bwa, Kurumba and Mossi, living in Burkina Faso, frequently take up and combine stylized elements borrowed from men, animals or even insects. It is the spirits of nature who are believed to determine an individual's well-being and prosperity, and adversity will be seen as the result of neglect of collective rituals. It is therefore during different celebrations that the mask will personify a spirit of nature or that of an ancestor in order to influence the daily lives of members of the ethnic group. They appear to honor the deceased during funeral rites, and to escort souls to the ...