Missouri State University

Skip to content Skip to navigation
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

Art History Virtual Exhibition

Female Kifwebe Mask Luba or Songye culture 20th century Wood and pigment, L. 26.5 cm x W. 33.75 cm x 11 cm BFPC collection #2010.011

Kifwebe Mask: Researched and Reproduced by Tyler White

August, 2020 by Sarah Teel

The kifwebe mask (plural bifwebe) is made by both the Luba and the Songye cultures of Central Africa.  Interestingly, the Luba claim that this was originally a Songye mask, while the Songye claim that the Luba were the first to create the kifwebe mask.  Some scholars believe that these cultures each defer to the other in order to create an allure of strangeness for the masks.

Traditionally, bifwebe masks were created and worn by the secret masking societies of the Luba and the Songye; they were danced in male-female pairs that represent spirits connecting this world with the spirit world.  These masquerades were performed at rites associated with funerals and initiations, serving to rid the community of evil presences.  Today bifwebe masks are made for public masquerade performances, often with just one female mask and up to eight male masks.

Bifwebe masks take two forms: a round or oval, hemispherical mask with concentric oval carved lines radiating from the mouth, or an oblong mask with hooded eyes and a round mouth with a squarish cut-out.  Among the Luba, the hemispherical masks represent the female spirits, while the elongated masks represent the male spirits.  Among the Songye, however, either of these mask shapes could be male or female; instead, gender was determined by color: female masks were painted white, while male masks use three colors of striations and incorporate a strong use of red.  Songye male masks also often have a tall crest rising up from the nose bridge and more exaggerated features.  This kifwebe mask most likely represents a female spirit, as not only is it hemispherical, but it also shows scant remains of white pigment residue in the surface carving.

 

Female Kifwebe Mask
Luba or Songye culture
20th century
Wood and pigment, L. 26.5 cm x W. 33.75 cm x 11 cm
BFPC collection #2010.011

 

 

For more information, you may contact the researcher(s) noted in the title of this exhibit entry, or Dr. Billie Follensbee, the professor of the course, at BillieFollensbee@MissouriState.edu

Filed Under: 2018 Spring, ART 386: Art of Africa Tagged With: africa, african art, kifwebe mask, luba culture, songye culture

Subscribe via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Categories

  • 2014 Fall, ART/MST 488: Basic Conservation of Art and Artifacts
  • 2015 Fall, ART/MST 488: Basic Conservation of Art and Artifacts
  • 2016 Fall, ART 385: Art of the Americas
  • 2016 Spring, ART 386: Art of Africa
  • 2017 Fall, ART/MST 488: Basic Conservation of Art and Artifacts
  • 2018 Fall, ART 385: Art of the Americas
  • 2018 Spring, ART 386: Art of Africa
  • 2019 Fall, ART/MST 488: Basic Conservation of Art and Artifacts
  • 2020 Spring, ART 386: Art of Africa

Tags

20th century 20th century art africa african art African basketry akua'ba american midwest american midwest culture american midwest ozarks culture art of africa asante culture bamana culture basketry baule culture beadwork bobo culture bonniebrook ceramics ceremonial masks chancay culture conservation early 20th century footstone gravestone headstone kente cloth kifwebe mask kuba culture kuna culture lakota culture late 20th century mask mola ndebele culture oceania ozarks culture panama papua new guinea ralph foster museum senufo culture Sioux Culture staffs staffs of power tanzania zulu culture

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org
Make your Missouri statementMake your Missouri statement
  • Last Modified: November 10, 2020
  • Accessibility
  • Disclaimer
  • Disclosures
  • EO/AA/M/F/Veterans/Disability/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity
  • © 2013 Board of Governors, Missouri State University
  • Contact Information