African tribal art, mask from democratic republic of congo

  
African tribal art, mask from democratic republic of congo. 34 cm --13.2 inches high by 18 cm 7 inches wide. LULUA (BASHILANGE, BENA LULUA, BENA LULUWA, BENA MOYO, LULUWA, SHILANGE). Democratic Republic of the Congo. Lulua is an umbrella term, which refers to a large number of heterogeneous peoples who populate the region near the Lulua River, between the Kasai and Sankuru rivers. The Lulua people migrated from western Africa during the 18th century and settled in the southern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire).

They number 300,000 and live in small regional chiefdoms and in times of crisis elect a common leader. The role of the village chief is to insure juridical, political and social cohesion. During the late 19th century, Lulua culture underwent radical changes. In 1875, the Lulua king, Kalambam, introduces new social and religious regulations, which ended the traditional palm-wine drinking and hemp smoking. Their economy is mostly based on agriculture, hunt and trade.

Primarily farmers, Lulua women grow manioc as a staple crop, as well as beans, sweet potatoes, maize, yams, peanuts, and bananas. The men are responsible for clearing the forest and preparing the soil for cultivation. They also hunt, fish with nets, and trap animals in the surrounding forests.

The Lulua statuary is remarkable in the degree of its scarification, a manifestation of a wish to be socially differentiated. These marks must be very ancient as in 80. Century they were no found on the Lulua themselves. The statues represent great chiefs with beards and insignia, and these effigies would be planted in the ground to protect the household when the head of the family was absent. These male figures depict warriors-chiefs who often hold a ceremonial sword and shield, or a cup.

Sometimes knives and other paraphernalia hang from the belt. The most famous statuettes are the mbulenga, or female charm statuettes. The chibola are maternity figures that, when worn on the belt, protected the newborn child or the baby about to be born: the chibola would stand watch over childbirths. The protruding abdomen of the woman emphasizes the importance of the lineage. 15 USD I reduce to 10 USD.

20 USD I reduced to 14 USD. 25 USD I reduce to 16 USD.

30 USD I reduce to 20 USD. 35 USD I reduce to 25 USD.

40 USD I reduce to 29 USD. 45 USD I reduced to 30 USD. 50 USD I reduce to 34 USD. 55 USD I reduce to 37 USD.

60 USD I reduce to 41 USD. 65 USD I reduce to 43 USD. 70 USD I reduce to 46 USD. 75 USD I reduce to 49 USD. 80 USD I reduce to 55 USD.

I also look the combine weight and reduce further where possible. This item is in the category "Collectibles\Cultures & Ethnicities\African\1900-Now\Masks".

The seller is "my-african-beauty" and is located in this country: RW.

1. Country/Region of Manufacture: Congo