African art and history of the Punu

Gabon

(Apono, Bapunu, Mpaongwe)

The Punu live on the left bank of the Upper Ngoume River, belonging to a group of tribes collectively refered to as the Shira which were originally part of the Luango kingdom of Angola.  They live independantly in villages where they are divided in clans and families, and social cohesion is ensured by a society known as Moukouji, whose primiary role is the subjugation of the harmful forest spirits. During ceremonies and rituals relating to this cult, often funeral ceremonies, white pigmented masks and statues are used, the white alluding to the anti-witchcraft functions. The dancers wearing the masks, okuyi, would stand on stilts, concealed under fiber costumes, and performed acrobatic feats.  The white color is genderless: it symbolizes the afterlife and the spirits of the dead.

The masks have realistic, usually white, faces with protruding eyes incised with a curve, high domed foreheads, T-shaped noses, globular protruding forehaeds and characteristic ridged high coiffures, which reflect the Punu women's style. Some Punu masks have raised scarification marks along the temples which could possibly be associated to a female ancestor.

 Punu carvers carve statues, amulets and everyday objects showing faces similar to those found in the masking.  They are believed to be either prestigious items or as was the case with some statuary and amulets, were used in magical ceremonies.