Lulua (Bena Lulua, Bena Moyo, Luluwa, Shilange), Democratic Republic of the Congo

Initiation mask. The name of this tribe derives from the name of the Lulua River (in the south central DRC), which they inhabit. Numbering 300,000 they live in small regional chiefdoms. The Lulua were never politically united and therefore there were a large number of relatively autonomous chiefs, which meant that many local dignitaries had works of art dedicated to them. 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 heterogeneous composition of the Lulua, and the considerable area they occupy, explain the many stylistic overlapping with their neighbors. The Lulua masks were worn during initialization, more specifically, in circumcision ceremonies.

Material:  wood

Size:  H. 11”, W. 7”, D. 5”

Price: $160 + $24 (S&H)            [#L8L8M963]