 Kidumu Masquerade - This type of African mask originates from the Ogowe region, most probably from the Tsaayi, the only Teke group that used wooden mask since the middle of the nineteenth century. Their Kidumu masquerade ceremony dances served to confirm and maintain the social and political structure in a ceremonial context. When the French colonial rule took place, these traditions started to decline, only to be revived once the Congo again gained its independence.
The narrow eye slits that were placed in various positions on different Kidumu ceremonial masks enabled the masquerader to see as he held the maks by gripping a woven cord on the back between his teeth.
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