The Teke Masks

The Teke live in Congo and Eastern Gabon. The French first occupied Congo in 1880. The French ruled here for 80 years. During this time, the people of the Congo faced an attack that is still evident today. The parceling out of African territories to the Colonial government and the resulting damage to traditional economies including massive loss of lives. Because of this, tribal life and food production systems got ruined. Only after the people of Congo got independence in 1960, the masking traditions were brought back.
Teke masks abstractly portray a human face. Although all of them have a similar design, each mask is unique. Each mask is distinct from another. The masks are worn by members of the Kidmu, a secret society. This society is intervened in all major events in the social life of their village. The mask is used to confirm the social and political structure during the Kidumu masquerade dancing ceremonies. Members of the Kidumu
They believed that Nzambi created Earth and the entire universe. However, they only worshiped an ancestral cult. In addition, the Teke make fetishes for spiritual and protective purposes. The fetishes are small, handheld statues. It is believed that they ensure luck for hunting and health. Also, a Nganga, or spiritual healer, by inheriting this position or by first working as an apprentice until the are ready to become a Nganga. A Nganga possesses the skills to communicate to a spiritual world and heal illnesses and stress. They also own a small statue that contains the soul of an ancestor called Tamakuwi who was able to uncover witches. Finally, for the Teke people, ancestors were very important. The believe that the ancestors live in sacred forests, caves, or near rivers. If descendants do not honor their ancestors, it is believed that the ancestors will come back and torture them with a sickness or mental illness. To not be put through this, everybody had to worship their