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African Mask from the Luba tribe, Zaire

The last object in this series is a mask from Africa. Soon we will have another series devoted to Africa. The Luba empire existed from the 16th to early 19th centuries. The Kifwebe masks were used in ceremonial, magical dances on important occasions like when the chief died or was newly appointed, or an important person arrived. The white parallel grooves on a dark background are characteristic. The masks were worn with a costume made of raffia (an African palm tree) fibers. 

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