Title: Deformity mask ‘Mbuya Mbangu’
Material: Wood and kaolin
People: Pende
Country: D.R. Congo
Description: The mask represents the bewitched and the masker
wears a hunchback from which an arrow extends referring to
sorcerers “shooting” their prey with arrows. The metaphor
communicates the perception of the sudden onslaught of illness.
The Pende attribute almost all illness to the malice of others. The
black and white division refers to the scars of someone who fell
into a fire due to epilepsy or some other medical condition, and
the face is twisted and distorted one side due to a paralysis of the
facial nerve. They believe that people must never mock physically
deformed persons, because a sorcerer is responsible and can
bring misfortune upon anyone.
Included is a custom-built metal stand.
Mask dimensions: 9 1/2" height x 7" width x 5" depth
Stand dimensions: 12" height x 5" width x 4 1/4" depth
Mask on stand dimensions: 14" height x 7" width x 5" depth
