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Suku


Mask, Kakuungu

Democratic Republic Of The Congo Early-Mid 20th century Wood 29 inches

Suku

The 80,000 Suku people have lived in the southwestern part of the Democratic Republic Of Congo since the 16th century. With the arrival of the Yaka and the Lunda in their territory, they were split into two autonomous groups. Their main economic resource is farming, but occasionally communal hunts are organized. Stylistically, their sculptures are characterized by an enlarged head with an almond-shaped mouth with incised teeth, a triangular nose and coffee-bean eyes, all set under an elaborate coiffure. The Suku carved large figures which were used during fertility ceremonies, and crouching fetish figures to which paraphernalia were attached. These were used either as ancestor figures or as the personification of evil spirits. Large face masks and helmet masks surmounted by animal or human figures were worn by dancers during certain initiation ceremonies.