Kifwebe Mask c. 20th century

This is a Kifwebe mask, likely carved from wood and painted by a Luba artist in the Democratic Republic of Congo. These masks held significant socio-political and spiritual roles within the Luba society. They weren't just decorative objects, but powerful symbols of authority and control. The geometric patterns and colors held coded meanings, understood by initiated members of the community. The stark contrast between the white and black is particularly striking, and suggests how powerful these visual codes were. Art historians look at masks like these to understand how power operated on a local level. Masks like these are more than just static objects. Instead, they have a history of use in performances and rituals that we can only partially reconstruct. Sources in anthropology and religious studies can help us get closer to this understanding.