African Crafts Market

African Luba masks - Congo

Size: 30cm (H) - Mask above

African masks of the Luba tribe.

The Luba are a warlike people and over centuries they have become a racially diverse people. The diversity is one the major contributors to the richness of the tribal art. Among the Luba,Luba arts counts amongst the finest that Africa has to offer. Artists occupied a privileged place in the hierarchy the artist is king. In reverence to their art, Luba artists are so well regarded that they are allowed to carry ceremonial axes with them. The Luba artist carried a ceremonial ax on his shoulder, an emblem of prestige and of dignity of his position. Some apprentices would be recruited from among the deformed, who could neither hunt nor be warriors and who were believed to have a close connection with magic.

These Luba mask originates from eastern Songye in Congo. The Luba people live near the Songye tribe and are mostly engaged in farming. They trace their settlement in Congo as far back as late 7th century. Their masks share a similar characteristic as that of the Songye tribe and are also known as the Kifwebe. They used the masks for dances, lunar ceremonies or plays as artists hold a special place in the Luba tribe.

All sizes listed are approximate. The African Luba Mask you purchase and receive may differ just slightly in size, look, and/or color from the African Luba Mask shown in the picture because each African Luba Mask is hand carved and hand painted by individual artists. No two masks are exactly the same.

Below is a selection of Luba masks that we have available.