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Amanda Krause

AP Art History

Mrs. Quimby

February 8, 2019

“‘Female (Pwo) Mask’ (#173) versus ‘Portrait Mask (Mblo)’ (#174)”

The Female (Pwo) Mask was created by the Chokwe people in the Democratic Republic

of Congo in the early 20th century out of wood, plant fiber, pigment, and copper alloy, and is

39.1 cm high. The mask is colored dark red, through a mixture of red earth and oil, and a white

powder surrounds her closed eyes, which are the largest part of the mask. Her face is very

symmetrical, her chin comes to a point, and her wide forehead is accentuated by her hairstyle,

which was a common Chokwe hairstyle for women. It was crafted with very delicate carvings to

capture the calm expression she wears. She has a slender nose and wears big circular earrings. A

repair can be seen on one side of the face, which shows how much the people loved it and

wanted to continue to use it. The pounded dots around the eyes suggest tattoo patterns women at

the time might have worn, as they wore a variety of different designs that had special meanings.

This mask was used to recognize the founding female ancestor of the Chokwe lineage and to

honor women who were young and had given birth, as that was seen as an honor in Chokwe

society. It also represented the ideal woman and virtues and the concept of womanhood that the

women of Congo felt, as they saw themselves in the mask. The Chokwe people felt a huge

amount of respect for women because they were a matrilineal society, one where the ancestry

and family line is passed down through the mother. However, it would have been worn by a male

dancer dressed up as a female to honor those women who endured childbirth and who still

retained their wisdom and beauty. The Chokwe people were not well known until the early 20th
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century, when Europeans began trading with them, so not much about them has been

documented. They were originally part of a larger kingdom from which they broke away and

they had traded with other groups in Africa, so they were not isolated. There are about a million

inhabitants in the Democratic Republic of Congo today.

The Portrait Mask (Mblo) was created by Owie Kimou in central Côte d’Ivoire in West

Africa (home to the Baule people) in the early 20th century out of wood, brass, and pigment, and

is 36.2 cm high. This is referred to as a “Mblo” mask because the one wearing it must wear a

cloth costume as well as dance for an audience with drummers, singers, and dancers in a series of

skits. In the village of Kami, where this mask was used, the skits and dances are referred to as

“Gbagba.” They allowed residents to socialize, mourn, celebrate, feast, and court with each

other. The masks were almost always kept out of sight when not in use. However, the Gbagba

masquerade is no longer practiced in Kami as it was replaced with newer masks and performance

styles in the 1980s. This specific mask was used in a masquerade to honor a respected member of

the Baule society. This mask was commissioned by Kouame Ziarey for his wife Maya Yanso, a

well-known dancer. It was carved by a well-known Baule artist, Owie Kimou. It was worn by

Kouame and his sons in performances. Maya accompanied the mask in its performances

throughout her life until she was no longer physically capable. Entertainment masks continue,

however, they are no longer carved to represent specific individuals. The mask has an oval face

with a small mouth and elongated nose. The high forehead and downcast slit eyes represent

modesty and wisdom. The folds around the mouth and between the sides of the nose and the

triangle shapes symbolize age. The use of brass when danced in the sun represented health. The

six tubular pieces at the crown are abstract and suggests and idealized inner state of beauty and

morality. In 1997, a collector from Brussels acquired the mask from Maya Yanso’s family,
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where it eventually made its way to a collector in Minneapolis and then was exhibited at

numerous museums and galleries.

Both masks function to tell a message about history and culture. Both masks were used in

rituals and ceremonies to tell their people about important events and people. The Chokwe mask

was used to convey the importance and respect of women and to honor them. The Baule mask

was used to recognize an important and respected woman in the Baule society and to honor her.

Both masks not only show the importance of their culture, but also the importance the women

play in their society.

While both masks are very similar, they are different in that the Chokwe mask was used

to honor and represent all women of their culture, whereas the Baule mask was used to represent

one individual, Maya Yanso. In addition, they are both presented in their ceremonies in different

ways; the Chokwe mask is meant to look representative of all Chokwe women and is worn

through a slow, graceful dance. The Baule mask is specifically designed to look like Maya

Yanso and is worn through an entertaining masquerade of drummers, singers, and dancers.