AAA856 Hemba mask

A kholuka mask associated with the mukanda rite

Referenced as AAA856, this wooden mask selected by Versmissen is a kholuka from the Suku people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Dating from the mid-20th century, it measures 26 × 24 × 55,5 cm. Its composition is adorned with figurative representations of humans and animals.

The kholuka appears at the conclusion of the mukanda, a rite of passage into manhood. Its appearance was accompanied by songs emphasizing distinctions between the sexes. The mask celebrated manhood while symbolically ridiculing women, in accordance with the cultural norms described for Suku society. Its figurative iconography and vertical format help identify the main visual and ritual elements associated with this mid-20th-century work.

Features of the kholuka mask AAA856

• Kholuka mask from the Suku people
• Made from wood
• Dimensions: 26 × 24 × 55,5 cm
• Origin: Democratic Republic of the Congo
• Dating from the mid-20th century