We recently had the opportunity to stay a few nights at the amazing Pongara Ecolodge (www.pongara-lodge.com) on Le Pointe, an island 30 minutes from Libreville, the capital city of Gabon.  We were drawn to these masks, which have been cleverly transformed into stylish lamps that can withstand the elements on this outdoor terrace.

Realizing that African ‘art’ stems from cultural ceremonies and traditions, these masks and sculptures should not be seen by way of the western concept of art for arts sake, but the African one of rites, spiritual world and ancestors’ worship.

With this perspective in mind we note that this is an original mask of the Ogooue, of the Kota and Mukudji tribes. Known as punu in Gabonese, they are carved from hardwood and decorated with white and red kaolin- based pigments. The temporal scarifications in the form of nine small diamonds together forming one large diamond evoke the notion of perfection and wisdom for this tribe. The mask itself represents their ideal of female beauty as well as the wisdom and serenity of the Ancients who protect the tribe from the kingdom of the dead. These masks are often referred to as ‘spirit guides’.