This helmet mask is made from wood, pigment and raffia.
In our 30 years, we have never had another mask from this particular tribe.
The Jonga are a small group of only about
15000, and very little is known about them.
A few reddish-white and
black masks are known with slit eyes tilted at an upward angle,
and are believed to be of the type belonging to a diviners and
healers society.
The male society, Nkoumi were responsible for
initiation rituals in which masks were also used. The sensitively
composed face is divided into four, chromatically differentiated
surfaces, diagonally dyed.
Ex. McConnell collection
Height: 10 ¾”
Width: 8 ½”
Depth: 11 ¼”
Height incl. raffia: 21 ½”
