Ndeemba Mask for N-khanda Initiation

Mask with a small carved wooden face with elaborate woven fiber headdress. The headdress consists of a central raised cone surrounded by four raised fan shapes and an outer rim of five raised cone forms projecting at angles from the center. The face has rectangular shaped ears with horseshoe indentations: the mouth is open and teeth are indicated; the eyes are coffee bean shaped and protrude. Attached around the rim of the mask is a thick raffia collar. Underneath the raffia is a handle of wood. The face and headdress are painted-face has white, blue, black and red pigment; the headdress is painted black with ochre geometric patterns. CONDITION: Raffia very dry and shedding; one point on right side of headdress cracked and fragile. This piece was treated by the Conservation Department (see file in Department office).