Very old mask made of wood, kaolin and pigments, typical of the Boa ethnic group of the Democratic Republic of Congo

Height: 29 cm, width: 33 cm

The Boa people

Little is known about the Boa tribe except that it numbers about two hundred thousand people who live mainly from agriculture in a savannah region located in the north of the Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire).

The social organization is limited to the village, governed by a chief from the dominant clan; they are frequently in contact with their neighbors the Mangbetu and the Zandé.

Boa art

The Boa are mainly known for their masks with large round and pierced ears, probably used during war ceremonies, to encourage warriors and celebrate victories.

They are also known to have statues of ancestors with apotropaic functions that have the same easily recognizable ears.

The Boa mask

Despite significant erosion, this mask has retained all its elegance; it has become very light (dehydration)

Variants of the name Boa

According to the sources, they are also called Ababua, Ababwa, Baboa, Baboua, Babua, Babwa, Boas, Bobwa, Boua, Bua, Buas, Bwa, Bwas, Mangbua