Ngita Ceremonial Helmet Dance Mask

The Kete tribe is one many subdivision clans of the Kuba kingdom; these tribal-clans are the Ngeende, the Kete, the Lele, the Binji, the Dengese, the Mbuun, and the Wongo.

The Kete clan also pays tribute to the Nyim, monarch of the king of the Kuba Bushoong ruling clan. But the Kete subgroup deal with their own internal affairs, which are dealt with autonomously.The Kete people farm their land, which is located along the southern borders of the Kuba-Kingdom, and live in independent villages led by family chiefs.

This type of mask was worn during funeral ceremonies and represents the inherent power of the mask’s association with  the forest and the spirits that dwell there. The mask is depicted with a pair of backward projecting horns, representing a ram or horned animal of the forest. The helmet-type mask is depicted with geometrical decorations and tribal-facial scarifications.The eyes are open and used as peepholes for the performing dancer.

Provenance:  The first known American collector was the renowned collector Lawrence P. Kolton and Rachel Angotti of Michigan City, Indiana, between the years of 1969 and 1979.