What is a female PWO mask?
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What is a female PWO mask?
Female (pwo) mask, Chokwe peoples, Democratic Republic of Congo, early 20th century, wood, plant fiber, pigment, copper alloy, 39.1 cm high (Smithsonian National Museum of African Art, Washington D.C.) This mask was made and worn by men, but its purpose is to honor women who have bravely survived childbirth.
What does the PWO mask represent?
A popular and frequent occurrence in entertainment masquerades, mwana pwo represents a female ancestor but is always worn by a male dancer. This mask type symbolizes fecundity and the prominent role of women in Chokwe society.
Who made the female PWO mask?
. Created by Beth Harris and Steven Zucker.
When was the female PWO mask made?
Mask: Female (Pwo) 19th–early 20th century.
Why are the eyes closed in the PWO mask?
Her eyes are closed to a narrow opening. The tears that fall from the eyes of the mask symbolize the pain of death that occurs throughout a human’s life.
Who wears the Bundu mask?
1. “The Mende and neighboring peoples of Sierra Leone and Liberia are unique in Africa in that women actually wear masks and costumes that conceal them totally from the audience in attendance on the occasion of their performance.
Who made the PWO masks?
Birmingham Museum of Art, Museum purchase, 1998.6. Pwo masks, made by Chokwe and related peoples, are a well-known but understudied genre of African art. Chikufwinda tuhu mwosi nchawa.
What is the meaning of Chokwe?
Definition of Chokwe 1a : a scattered people of northeastern Angola and adjacent parts of Democratic Republic of the Congo noted for the religious masks that they produce. b : a member of such people. 2 : a Bantu language of the Chokwe people closely related to or perhaps a dialect of Lwena.
Where is the Chokwe mask from?
Found amongst the Chokwe of Angola, these masculine masks (Chihongo, meaning ‘spirit of wealth’) are used to symbolize wealth and power. The masqueraders wearing the mask pay homage to male ancestors believed to be responsible for the prosperity and strength of the community.
How can the female Mende mask be characterized?
The masks are finely carved to convey admired feminine features: an elaborate coiffure, a smooth, broad forehead, narrowly slit eyes, a small, composed mouth, and a sensuously ringed neck.
What are Bundu masks?
A: Bundu masks, created in the 19th and 20th centuries in Sierra Leone, were crafted by men, but worn by women during Sande Society initiation masquerades. These masks represent the importance of women in Mende society, as well as the emphasis on adhering to the ideal of a young woman.
Where are the Chokwe people from?
Chokwe, also spelled Ciokwe, or Cokwe, also called Bajokwe, or Badjok, Bantu-speaking people who inhabit the southern part of Congo (Kinshasa) from the Kwango River to the Lualaba; northeastern Angola; and, since 1920, the northwestern corner of Zambia.
How do you greet a Chokwe?
KUCHI is one of the most common words you will hear spoken throughout the Chokwe world. This is the simplest greeting, and is often the first word learned by those who have an interest in the language.
Where are the Chokwe tribe from?
What is the Bundu mask made of?
Content: The full costume, made of a gown of raffia fibers (completely covering her body) and the 2-4 pound mask, represents Sowo. The mask’s deep black sheen and smoothness shows ideal image in contrast to the white clay. The sheen is created by a coat of palm oil → helps to represent healthy and beautiful skin.
Who wears Bundu masks?
What does the name Chokwe mean?
Definition of Chokwe 1a : a scattered people of northeastern Angola and adjacent parts of Democratic Republic of the Congo noted for the religious masks that they produce. b : a member of such people.
Who was Chibinda Ilunga?
Chibinda Ilunga, mid-19th century According to legend, Ilunga, the son of a great Luba chief, wooed Lweji, a Lunda chieftainess. He introduced into that tribe the concept of divine kingship and also taught the Lunda the art of hunting.
What did Chibinda Ilunga do?
Chibinda Ilunga, mid-19th century He introduced into that tribe the concept of divine kingship and also taught the Lunda the art of hunting.
What does Chibinda Ilunga the civilizing hero teach Chokwe people in addition to the idea of divine kingship?
Chibinda Ilunga He introduced into that tribe the concept of divine kingship and taught the Lunda people the art of hunting. From their union, if indirectly, came the Mwata Yamvo rulers of the Lunda, to whom the Chokwe paid tribute.
