Preview
Description
Lega masks are heart-shaped with concave faces that feature a delicate mouth and eyes shaped like cowrie shells. Surprisingly, the masks are rarely worn on the face, but are attached to different parts of the body, hung on fences, held in the hand, or worn over the forehead with the beard draping over the face. The masks are most frequently used during initiation ceremonies.
Culture and Traditions
Both men and women in Lega culture enter the centuries-old Bwami society to learn skills and wisdom for life that are taught to initiates through art.
Donation Details
Mr. & Mrs. Scotty L. Greenwald was donated in the year 2003.
Date of Digitization
7/6/2022
Contributing Institution
J. B . Coleman Library
Rights
© 2021 Prairie View A & M University
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Prairie View A&M University, "LEGA Culture of Arts from eastern Democratic Republic of Congo - (Dance Mask)" (2022). African Sculptures and Masks. 31.
https://digitalcommons.pvamu.edu/african-sculptures-and-masks/31
Notes
The Appraised Amount is $ 5,000.00.