Kifwebe : Un Siècle De Masques Songye Et Luba

Kifwebe masks are animated by a "supernatural life" linked to their unique hybridity where man, animal and spirit merge; a mixture that reflects the mystical essence of the Songye and Luba people of the southeastern region of the present-day Democratic Republic of Congo. Combining the pulse of a linear network of striated patterns with the powerful expression of multiple emotions, their stare imposes an unyielding presence. But they are more than their appearance - their essence is fulfilled in ritual and dance. For some time now, art historians and anthropologists have been paying increasing attention to them. This book offers a new exploration of the kifwebe masked tradition based on an in-depth study of the exceptional Woods Davy collection from California.