The 'muminia' (indispensable), or 'kekoni' (beautiful) mask has a face covered in black patina, except for the eyes whitened with kaolin. Characteristic is the white band with black dots carved on the forehead and cheeks. The mouth seems to cry out the admonitions of the ancestors.
This type of mask was already declared extremely rare in 1952 by Biebuyck, an acute scholar of Lega culture. This object comes from a Baliga village (Shabunda area).
The rare muminia masks belong to a large ritual community that includes several villages, and they are kept in a secret place, by the oldest kindi member, in the collective bag.
The essential meaning of this type of mask is social, a symbol of cohesion between different ethnic groups.
In the rite of introduction of a candidate to the 'bwame' it is said: 'Courage, little friend! But where you arrive, open your eyes well before speaking.' This is how prudence is taught, the highest virtue recommended to the 'bami'.
It comes from Mupenda (Shabunda).
