Mask

Among the Luvale and other Chokwe related peoples of Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia masquerades embodying a variety of ancestral spirits are active participants of important occasions, such as male initiation ceremonies or other critical events connected to the social and political life of the community. This headpiece is part of the costume of a masquerade representing Chisaluke, a male ancestral spirit who appears during the "mukanda" - the boys' initiation ceremony. In this setting, he acts like a teacher and instructor, assuming a somewhat formal role in the assessment of the initiates. In the public performance that marks the end of the seclusion, Chisaluke's "wild" behaviour celebrates the initiates' accomplishments and the connection between the living and the ancestors. Through his suggestive performance Chislauke invokes the blessing of fertility on the community.