Object Details
Maker
Hemba artist
Label Text
This mask is called so'o, meaning "human chimpanzee." It has a human face and a chimpanzee's mouth. To the Hemba, so'o is a frightening, unnatural creature that represents death. The mask appears at the end of a long series of funeral rites to conclude the mourning period. Through a performance that moves from threatening to amusing, the mask helps people make the transition from grief back to their daily routine.
Description
Wood monkey mask with slanted oval eyes, narrow pointed nose and large grinning mouth with serated edge forms at the bottom of the mask.
Provenance
Mohamed Kaba, 1972
Emile M. Deletaille, Brussels, 1972 to 1985
Exhibition History
Artful Animals, National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., July 1, 2009-July 25, 2010
Masques du Monde, Société Génerale de Banque, Brussels, June 28-July 31, 1974
Published References
Société Génerale de Banque. 1974. Masques du monde. Bruxelles: Société Génerale de Banque, no. 79.
Content Statement
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Credit Line
Museum purchase
Date
Early to mid-20th century
Object number
85-15-16
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
Type
Mask
Medium
Wood
Dimensions
H x W x D: 23 x 16 x 12.1 cm (9 1/16 x 6 5/16 x 4 3/4 in.)
Geography
Democratic Republic of the Congo
See more items in
National Museum of African Art Collection
Data Source
National Museum of African Art
Topic
monkey
male
Link to Original Record
Record ID
nmafa_85-15-16