Tchokwe mask, Cihongo.

Tchokwe mask, Cihongo. Democratic Republic of Congo (Angola), first half of the twentieth century.
In carved wood.
Attached document of Expertise Primitive Art.
Provenance: - Canadian Private Collection. - Pons' Private collection, from the early 1970s. - European Private Collection.
Measurements: 20 x 12 x 7 cm.; 34 cm. with stand.

The two most characteristic African masks of the Tchokwe ethnic group are the Pwo, a woman's mask, and the Cihongo, a man's mask. The Cihongo represents the spirit of the male primordial ancestor and symbolizes wisdom, power and virility. It is used in theatrical choreographies, during the dance of the male initiation ceremony (Mukanda). This mask is defined by the protruding chin, which actually represents the beard of the oldest and most respected members of the tribe. Another fundamental characteristic of this mask is the scarification typical of the Tchokwe ethnicity, in this case, as those presented on the forehead and cheeks.