Mwisi Gwa So'o MASK
Hemba Culture, Democratic Republic of Congo
First half of the 20th century
Drink
H.: 21; L.: 16 m

Monoxyl wooden mask depicting a stylized monkey, with an openwork mouth with small pointed teeth, crescent-shaped eyes, incised eyebrow arches and a particularly tapered nose.

"So'o" refers to the term "sokomotu", which means chimpanzee.
He dances during funeral ceremonies of reconciliation between the living and the dead, called ubuzha malilo.

Text and photos © FCP CORIDON

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