Hemba Soko Mutu Monkey Mask

A hand-carved wooden monkey mask known as soko mutu, or “chimpanzee human”, a type that appears at funerals and may also serve a protective function. The face has ovoid eyes, a downward-pointing nose and a broad grinning mouth beneath a lustrous brown patina. Drilled suspension holes around the edges allowed the mask to be attached to the wearer's face or to a larger dance costume. It comes from the Shaba district of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.