The Teke-Tsaye (or Tsaayi) people live in the northwesternmost area of Congo, on the Gabon border. Its male secret society, known as ‘Kidumu’, was in charge of all the important events in the life of the villages (for a more detailed explanation cf. cat. no. 85). The present, visibly old, typical ‘Kidumu mask’ is almost round, horizontally divided in two halves in the middle and offset with an arched stripe. The front side is executed with relief motifs: two sets of eyes on top of each other are accentuated by broad relief lines. An arrow points towards the root of the nose, above and below which are two floral reliefs as well as two segments of a circle in the upper and lower sections. With a short nose at its centre. Next to it are two small eye slits for the dancer. The entire mask was originally coloured black-brown and white (now with paint losses due to age and partly repainted). Along the offset margin are several holes for feathers (above) and a hanging made of plant fibres (below). Some holes are cracked as a result of protracted use. Four additional holes were drilled on the right side of the mask after an old loss. This item displays a very good, old usage patina on the front and especially on its black-dyed backside. Rare! First third to first half of the 20th century; H: 42 cm, W: 41 cm. (ME)

Provenance: Austrian private collection.

Lit.: ‘Bateke’ by M.-C. Dupré & E. Fèau, ill. 203; ‘Die Kunst des schwarzen Afrika' by Kerchache, Paudrat, Stephan, ill. 166; ‘Encyclopedia of African Art and Culture’ by K.-F. Schädler, ill. p. 326.

Additional picture:
A ‘Kidumu dancer’ of the Teke-Tsaye people, Congo
Photo from ‘BATÉKÉ’, Paris, musée national des Arts d´Afrique et d´Océanie