A Luba Kifwebe mask, Ivory Coasr, DRC, Tanganyika region, Moyo village. Incl. stand

Kifwebe masks are powerful ritual objects used by the Luba and Songye peoples of the Democratic Republic of Congo, though they are more commonly associated with the Songye. Among the Luba, however, Kifwebe masks take on distinct symbolic and aesthetic roles, reflecting their unique sociopolitical and spiritual systems. The term kifwebe means "mask" in the Songye language, but in practice it refers to a type of mask distinguished by its grooved surface patterns, bulging eyes, and protruding mouths, often painted with bold combinations of white, black, and red.

Luba Kifwebe masks are part of a broader system of secret societies and initiation rituals. These societies function to regulate social conduct, enforce law, preserve esoteric knowledge, and connect the community with ancestral and spiritual realms. The masks are typically worn during public dances that serve both judicial and spiritual functions—addressing moral transgressions, mediating conflicts, and invoking ancestral protection.
While similar to Songye versions, Luba Kifwebe masks tend to be more naturalistic and less aggressive in form, reflecting the Luba emphasis on harmony, diplomacy, and aesthetic subtlety. The striated patterns carved into the mask’s surface represent cosmic order, spiritual power, and the balance between the seen and unseen worlds.

As art historian Mary Nooter Roberts writes:
“Kifwebe masks among the Luba are not simply instruments of disguise or intimidation; they are embodiments of layered cosmological knowledge. Their grooved patterns symbolize the passage between the visible and invisible realms, while their performance enacts the Luba understanding of balance between temporal authority and ancestral force.”
(Memory: Luba Art and the Making of History, Roberts and Roberts, 1996)

Brookly Museum , Met Museum , Sotheby's

Height: 36 cm / 56 cm incl. stand
Weight: 1,6 kg incl. stand