250426 - African Kwele Ekuk antelope mask - Gabon

250426 - African Kwele Ekuk antelope mask - Gabon
€125.00

African Kwele Ekuk Antelope mask from Gabon,

Hand carved from a single piece of wood, with color pigments.

Heights: 59 cm.

The Kwele people of Gabon are firm believers in witchcraft and black magic. That is why they attribute all misfortune and good fortune to witchcraft. Also known as 'Ekuk', these masks are worn during a 'Betee' cleansing ritual. The antelope horns represent the meat of the antelope that is eaten at the end of the Betee ritual. The white kaolin colour represents the colour of the Ekuk spirit. With 2 high antelope-like horns in black wood. Stylised long angular chiselled nose, small eye slits and long protruding ears. The rest of the face is covered with white kaolin.