Superb Kifwebe mask - Songye - Democratic Republic of the...

The Bifwebe masks (kifwebe in the singular) are among the ceremonial objects of the society of the same name (bwadi ka kifwebe), which still today plays a prestigious role among the Songye of the East. Members of this society are the basha masende, custodians of the knowledge needed to interact with the gods. The bifwebe masks are worn with a long costume and a long beard made of plant fiber, during the most important ceremonies. The female mask, which, unlike the male mask, the kilume (plural bilume), is devoid of a crest on the top of the head and bears fine white-incised markings on the face. The masks, the colors, and the costumes have symbolic meanings. Each part of the mask’s face is associated with a specific animal such as the lion, the zebra, the crocodile, or the porcupine, whose behavior the mask imitates. Furthermore, the colors express various character traits or dispositions of the spirit. For example, white symbolizes positive aspects such as purity, peace, the moon and light; the color red is associated with blood, fire, courage and strength, but also with destruction and negative magic. The stripes are a double-meaning script: the path or road of the dead awaiting rebirth, while the nose or the vertical axis of the mask is the tree of life. The mouth would be the beak of the bird or the sorcerer’s fire. The mask has an imprecatory function. According to the Songyes, he who has full lips is supposed to speak loudly. Fundamentally, the female masks reflect positive forces: they are worn during night dances, during the most important lunar ceremonies, or on the occasion of an investiture or the death of a chief. The male masks, more colorful, dance by day.

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