Kifwebe mask from the Luba people. Democratic Republic of the Congo, 20th century

Kifwebe mask from the Luba people. Democratic Republic of the Congo, 20th century.
Polychrome wood.
It has some missing carvings and a crack.
Measurements: 36 x 34 x 17 cm.

The Kifwebe mask of the Luba people, native to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, is one of the most unique expressions of traditional African art. It is characterized by its geometric forms, its striking expressiveness, and, especially, by the presence of parallel grooves carved into the surface, which create a distinctive play of light and shadow.

More than 200 ethnic groups inhabit the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the majority of which are Bantu peoples. Together, the Mongo, Luba, and Kongo (Bantu) peoples, along with the Mangbetu-Azande, make up about 45% of the population. The Kongo people are the largest ethnic group in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In 2016, the United Nations estimated the country’s population at 79 million people, a rapid increase from 39.1 million in 1992 despite the ongoing war. Up to 250 ethnic groups have been identified and named. The most numerous are the Kongo, Luba, and Mongo. About 600,000 Pygmies are the indigenous peoples of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Although several hundred local languages and dialects are spoken, linguistic diversity is reduced both by the widespread use of French and by the national lingua francas—Kituba, Tshiluba, Swahili, and Lingala.