People: Pende (Pinda, Phende, Bapende)
Location: SW Democratic Rep of the Congo
Population: 250,000
 

Arts: The Pende are known for their many dramatic carvings, which vary by region. The Pende are divided geographically into the Western and Eastern groups, though they consider themselves one people. They occupy an area bounded by the Kasai and Loango rivers.

The Western Pende, referred to as the Kwilu Pende based on their concentration in the Kwilu Valley, are known mostly for their many masks. These masks historically were used for initiations, with many "characters" portrayed. Used in what were essentially morality plays, masks educated as well as celebrated a youth's coming of age. There were subtle, one might say, academic differences in the masks, depending on the "role" they played.

The most famous of these masks, well-known to most collectors, are the "mbuya" masks, with their exaggerated brows and elaborate woven headdresses, which held a prominent role during initiations. The color and shape of each "mbuya" varied depending on their purpose, and at least 20 forms have been documented. Today these masks are mostly used theatrically for the entertainment of the village.

The Kwilu Pende are also famous for their small ivory masquettes (ikhokho), which can be exquisitely beautiful, acquiring a warm, lush patina from years of wear. Historically, each initiate would be presented with one of these little masks, which featured a design similar to the mbuya face masks. The initiate would wear these prized possessions around their necks throughout their lives. The finest examples of these little gems are considered masterpieces, and are eagerly sought-after by collectors and museums alike. Today, regulation of the ivory trade has effectively halted their production, and genuinely old examples are virtually impossible to find.
 

The Eastern, or Kasai Pende, are known for their "statues," found mostly in the form of door panels with full figures. They are displayed outside the huts of chiefs and are thought to provide protection, as well as proclaim the authority of their owners.

These panels are often quite large and very colorful, with the copious use of triangular incising, usually black and white. Set against the reddish color of the figure, they are quite an impressive sight. This reddish color is produced by the application of "tukula" powder, which comes from the camwood tree, and is obtained in trade from the Mbala.

Masks of the Kasai Pende are frequently quite abstract.  One mask in particular, a rather bizarre form of helmet mask, known as the "kipoco," is connected to the ancestor cult. It features a long, Pinocchio-style nose, and a circular collar decorated with the characteristic black, white, and red triangles.

There are many other, mostly small, masks produced by the Kasai Pende, historically used in a variety of ceremonies, and rituals of divination and magic. Utilitarian and apotropaic objects are produced by both groups, and can usually be identified by their distinctive faces, with the classic brooding Pende eyes, and a downwardly-curved mouth.
 

History: The history of the Pende is connected to that of their neighbors, the Yaka and the Suku, and are originally from modern-day Angola. They were displaced northwards by the expansion of the old Lunda Empire around 1620, and they have remained in this general area ever since, split by geography and to some extent culture, but united as a people. The Chockwe tried to conquer the Pende in the 19th century, but they were cut short by European colonialism, which arrived at about the same time, allowing the Pende to regain their independence.

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All text and images copyright Africa Direct, Inc. 2006.