Lulua (Bena Lulua, Bena Moyo, Luluwa, Shilange), Democratic
Republic of the Congo
Initiation Spirit Mask. The Lulua inhabit a vast region in the province
of West Kasai in the south central DRC. They number
300,000 and live in small regional chiefdoms and in times of crisis elect a common leader.
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 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. The heterogeneous composition of the
Lulua, and the considerable area they occupy, explain the many stylistic overlapping with
their neighbors. Lulua art is very personal and
has very little relation to neighboring styles, in particular the Kuba. The Lulua masks representing the spirits of the
dead are used by masqueraders who perform during circumcision rites in initiation
ceremonies.
Material: wood
Size: H. 13,
W. 8½, D. 7½