Lega Lukwakongo Bwami Miniature Mask, Democratic Republic of Congo #47

Lega Lukwakongo Bwami Miniature Mask, Democratic Republic of Congo #47 Small/ Miniature Lega Masks are called Lukwakongo, and were worn on the arm, carried in the hand, attached to a hat, or grouped with similar Masks in an array. The Lukwakongo are never worn on the face, but they are rather attached to the arm or exhibited on a fence, during the Bwami  Society/ Association meetings. Usually, these Miniature Masks, known under the name of Lukwakongo, have a heart-shaped face, framed by a line formed by the nose, the eyebrows, and the cheeks. The face is whitened with Kaolin Clay, whereas the forehead and the borders have a typical brown patina. The holes all along the lower border of this African mask originally held a beard made of liana fibers. The complex system of Instruction, Initiation, and Advancement for both Men and Women in the Bwami Society uses Masks and Figures to document the various levels of Bwami, and to serve as Badges validating the Initiate's knowledge of the Secr