Lega Bwami Society Mask Congo

The Lega Bwami Society mask was hand-carved in wood by the Lega or Warega people from the Lualaba River near Lake Tanganyika in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Lega masks are known for their elongated faces with a central ridge as the nose, almond-shaped eyes, and some symbolic geometric patterns. These masks served a crucial role in ceremonies including initiations, funerals, and celebrations. These masks are believed to facilitate communication with ancestors and these masks acted as badges to represent various levels of Bwami knowledge and validate an initiate's rank.