Congolese wood mask, 'Pride of Womanhood'

Juliana Akandas carves a mask depicting a girl with bead and red cotton earrings. Embossed brass adorns her face and she smiles with excitement. From the Lwalwa tribe of southeastern Congo, such masks are presented to girls during their puberty rites. They show that the teens have reached womanhood. Both boys and girls go through initiation to become responsible adult members of Lwalwa society, but masks are worn only during male Ngongo initiation.