Rare African mask from the Yela or Mbole - Congo, this mask is hand carved from a single piece of wood. The Yela and their neighbours the Mbole live in the central-eastern equatorial forest. Their socio-cultural life is dominated by the secret Lilwa community, which is of a judicial nature. The mask is worn by the "Kumi", the one who speaks and passes judgement, but was also used during male initiation ceremonies into the Lilwa society to obtain discipline and secrecy from the new initiates. The masks of the Yela and Mbole show stylised faces, diagonal stripes under the eyes. These were used by prominent members of the Lilwa community during ceremonies that symbolised judgement and emphasised moral behaviour.
