Mask (Lewa)

Unknown

19th–early 20th century · Wood, paint · Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas

The peoples of the Schouten Islands, an offshore archipelago near the mouth of the Sepik River, create distinctive masks representing spirits called village lewa. Masked performers impersonating those spirits appear to dance and enforce a ban on harvesting coconuts during the lead up to walage, ceremonial food distributions held by the village headman. In preparation for a walage, the headman summons the village lewa. A male dancer impersonating a pregnant female lewa arrives first and "gives birth" to twin sons, who are portrayed by the masked dancers. The two lewa appear regularly during the months required for the coconuts to ripen for the ceremony. They are then sent back to the land of the spirits, accompanied by funerary chants, and the masks are stored away.

Artist

Unknown

Date

19th–early 20th century

Medium

Wood, paint

Culture

Wogeo or Bam people

Department

Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas

Credit line

Purchase, Fred and Rita Richman Gift and Rogers Fund, 2001