Chokwe Chihongo

 Mid twentieth century

Provenance : Angola

H : 30 cm / 11.80 inch

VENDIDO

The male Cihongo mask depicts an elderly man of noble rank. It is the counterpart of the female Mwana Pwo mask which portrays a young ancestress. The beard carved below the chin of the Cihongo mask is stylistically the same as that worn by Chokwe elders. In the past, only the chief or one of his sons wore the Cihongo mask, whose dance was thought to bring prosperity to the village. The Cihongo mask often performs together with the female Mwana Pwo mask for the fertility and prosperity of the community.