Kwele Mask

African wooden mask, 20th century, Antelope with black and white painting the Kwele people are living in the forests of the border of Gabon, Cameroon and the Republic of Congo. They believe that accidents and suffering are made by witchcraft. To protect themselves, they perform the beete ritual. This can last a whole week. The masked dancer reinforces unity and maintains social order. The beete ritual is also the beginning of the hunting season for antelopes, whose flesh, seasoned with medicines, has to be eaten at the closing ceremony.

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