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Description
TSOGO
Movei mask.
20th century.
Height: 44 cm.
Carved from gésanga wood (Ricinodendron africanum), coloured with white clay (pemba) and with crushed red seeds from the rocouyer momweni plant around the eyes; headdress made of raffia.
Provenance:
Pierre Redouin Collection.
Bibliography:
Published in *Le Souffle des Esprits*, Les Éditions de l’Amateur, Pierre & Hadrien Redouin, 2012, p. 181.
Description:
This mask, which evokes death, is intended to instil fear.
The movei mask is one of the most sacred and feared apparitions in Bwété: it belongs to the world of the night, of judgement and of occult power. To this end, its form pushes the Tsogho aesthetic towards a form of almost supernatural severity. The domed forehead testifies to intelligence and knowledge of secrets that transcend those of humankind. The eyes, reduced to thin slits amidst disproportionately large eye sockets, cast a fixed and penetrating gaze. The mouth is dominated by impressive teeth, menacing in their disproportion. Whilst many Tsogho masks are white, the Movei mask is characterised by a three-colour scheme (white, red, black) typical of the region. The white of the face is not here a symbol of peace. It is the pallor of death coming to demand an accounting. The red on its menacing mouth serves as a reminder that it is capable of devouring the life force of those who betray the clan. Through the black, it demonstrates that it is not merely a spirit from the afterlife; it also intervenes in the material world to fulfil its role as policeman and judge.
The movei appears in times of crisis or on occasions of great ritual significance. His arrival in the village is met with silence and respect. For he intervenes to punish serious transgressions against the laws of the forest or the secrets of initiation. He is believed to have the power to detect sorcerers (ndoki) hidden amongst the crowd. By his mere presence, he is said to ‘burn away’ evil intentions. The movei is also the guardian of the threshold of the nzimba. It is he who protects access to the temple.
The emergence of the movei mask follows a very precise protocol. It usually appears at night, by torchlight. The play of light and shadow on its domed forehead and white face makes it appear immense, shifting and frightening. The dancer is entirely covered in raffia fibres and wild animal skins, erasing all traces of humanity. He does not walk. He does not dance. He glides or leaps in an unpredictable manner. His appearance is preceded by whistles or imitations of the cries of nocturnal birds, signalling that the spirit has come to inhabit the mask.
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About the sale
The Breath of the Spirits: The Collection of Pierre Redouin and Others
Auction location
Auction time
09/24/2026 at 2:30 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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