Provenance: Luvale People - Western
Zambia - Second quarter 20th Century
Mwana Pwevo 'or Mwana Pwo', literally
means 'young woman'. She epitomizes a beautiful young
ancestor of the Chokwe and related peoples. A young man
disguised as a woman wears the symbolic mask. When
dancing, Mwana Pwo exaggerates the mannerisms of young
Chokwe women.
This mask was collected south of Mize, the Luvale paramount chief
Ndungu's capital. Mize is situated on the west bank of the
Zambezi River in Western Zambia.
Makishi Lya Zambia- Pgs. 162 and 261
A second mask was collected in the
same village at the same time. It was published on page 261
of Makishi Lya Zambia (above right). The two masks are
highly individual in style, but and have similarities to the ears - eyes - brows and in particular the mouth. They
were carved extremely thin, presumably by the same artist. A third mask, (above left), has
very much identical facial scarification’s to mask (page 261)
and leaves the viewer with a similar impression.
The three masks share a common styling to the eyebrows.
Those on the mask above reflect what may be characterized as
European. Mask (pg 162) identified as Mwana Pwevo: The
mask's eyebrows, seemingly raised, and curved open mouth
grant it an almost 'sunny' aspect, which perhaps relates to
the young character's role as a public entertainer. Mask
(pg 261) is identified as Hundu (a baboon representation).
The pointed nose, small eyes, and particularly the
eyebrows, however, recall the caricature-like depictions of
the white man in CHINDELE masks. (A European
representation)
So what does this unusual mask represent? The
'cowardly lion' from the Wizard of Oz?
☺
Conversely, the mask cannot be Chindele, as it represents a white male. It
also cannot be
identified as Hundu the baboon. Sparse facial scarification confirms
this is a delightful
overly personalized form of Mwana Pwevo.
Note the unusual abundance of
attachment holes placed along the masks outer edge.
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FACES -
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