MC1883 Masque zoomorphe hibou BEMBE CONGO zoomorphic Owl mask Lega PROVENANCE: Ex Belgian-French Collection of

PROVENANCE: Ex Belgian-French Collection of Mr Ph

le petit nez est rectiligne

17 3/4 with the beard (45 cm)

(ex Zaïre

MC1883 Masque zoomorphe hibou BEMBE CONGO zoomorphic Owl mask Lega PROVENANCE: Ex Belgian-French Collection ofFor English, please have a look below CONGO DRC BEMBE Beautiful Owl Zoomorphic Circumcision Mask Called Eluba va butende na cwecwe or "Emangungu" these masks were worn during the initiation rites of young people. " The animal that dominates the heights of the forest, the master of death, is the owl ( cwecwe : generic term). His mask will protect, in particular, the circumcised Batende from the poisonous gaze of the sorcerers " (PP Gossiaux, page 19 )