
04/01/2025
Pende, DR Congo | Image #9
"We were in the land of the Pende people, two days’ drive south of Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Pende masks are danced to appease the ancestors, protect chiefs and to honor funerals. They are also used in acts of sorcery, which to this day, despite the influence of Christianity, underlies the modern Pende world." In this Image "Sorcerers reveal their magical powers by displaying daggers or arrows piercing their cheeks. We were told that when the cheek was pierced there was neither blood nor wound."
The Pende people of the DR Congo are famous for their masks, which are used in important rituals such as the initiation of young men into adulthood. These masks play a spiritual role in guiding and protecting the community. We are deeply touched by your appreciation of our work.