Uno sceneggiato RAI che racconta solo l’episodio “buono” di Pende (“Fattore K”) e tace fascismo e razzismo scientifico non è memoria storica: è selezione comoda. Un gesto non cancella responsabilità. Col canone, no. #pende #antisemitismo #canone #rai #disinformazione

A Giphogo mask, also known as a Kipoko mask, is a Pende helmet mask from the Democratic Republic of Congo, signifying power and authori-ty, particularly for the Eastern Pende chief. The name "Giphogo" translates to "sword wielder," and the mask is used in rituals to connect with ances-tors, ensuring successful harvests, fertility, and community protection. It is a symbol of chiefly power, with only chiefs permitted to wear and dance with it during significant ceremonies like agricultural festivals, initiation rites, and rituals for ancestral veneration.

Giphogo Mask
wood, pigment
mid 20th century
Eastern Pende Culture
DRC (Congo)

#handmade #tribal #tribalart #easternpende #pende #drc #congo #africa #africanart #africantribalart #mask #chiefmask #hierarchy #giphogomask #ritual #religion #initiation #fertility #ancestors #protection

Deformity in tribal art The Pende Mbangu "sickness" masks illustrate, by their deformed features, the patient in epileptic seizure or the result of facial paralysis caused by witchcraft rituals. In many tribal cultures, however, epilepsy is seen as a divine seal on an individual who is able to communicate with the spiritual world in this way. The Western Pende live on the banks of the Kwilu, while the Eastern Pende have settled on the banks of the Kasai downstream from Tshikapa. The influences of the neighboring ethnic groups, Mbla, Suku, Wongo, Leele, Kuba and Salempasu have been imprinted on their extensive tribal art sculpture.

A Pende 'mbangu' mask
(sickness mask)
1st half of 20th century
wood, pigment, fiber

#pende #mbangu #mask #sicknessmask #epilepsy #witchcraft #divineconnection #spiritual #ritual #tribalart #ethnographic #africanart