Bwami Society Maskette / Artist Unknown, African, Lega Peoples Democratic Republic of the Congo

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About this Item

Record Details

Accession Number
1985/1.151
Title
Bwami Society Maskette
Artist Nationality
Congolese
Medium and Support
wood, kaolin
Object Creation Date
1900-1975
Object Creation Place
Africa (continent)
Congo, Democratic Republic of the (nation)
Creation Place 1
Africa (continent)
Dimensions
19.5 cm x 15.7 cm x 6.3 cm (7 11/16 in. x 6 3/16 in. x 2 1/2 in.)
Century
20th century
Primary Object Classification
Costume and Costume Accessory
Primary Object Type
mask
Physical Description
Concave, ovoid maskette with kaolin covering surface of surface of face. Minimal rendering of facial features: raised, tapered wood strip for nose; narrow, oviod, horizontal eyes; open, ovoid mouth with some striation around interior edge.
Subject Matter
This maskette was used in initiation ceremonies associated with bwami, a ranked initiation society open to all Lega men and women. Bwami was the core of Lega identity. Its moral and philosophical precepts permeated all aspects of social and political life. Maskettes were emblems of an individual's rank in the bwami society. They were also used to aid in the instruction of bwami ideas and values. The meaning of individual maskettes were context specific and could change over time.
Rights
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Technical Details

Image Size
791 x 1043
File Size
51 KB
Record
1985/1.151
Link to this Item
https://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/musart/x-1985-sl-1.151/1985_1.151.jpg

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Manifest
https://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/i/image/api/manifest/musart:1985-SL-1.151:1985_1.151.JPG

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Full citation
"Bwami Society Maskette; Artist Unknown, African, Lega Peoples Democratic Republic of the Congo." In the digital collection University of Michigan Museum of Art. https://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/musart/x-1985-sl-1.151/1985_1.151.jpg. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed March 27, 2024.
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