TRIBAL AFRICAN ART

BIOMBO (BASHIBIOMBO, BENA BIOMBO)

Biombo people live in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, south of the junction of the Lulua and Kasai Rivers. The masks attributed to them have surface decoration related to that of the Eastern Pende, notably surfaces with dark and white triangles, but the principal mask shapes show Kuba influence. The head is often decorated by a three-prong hairdo. Biombo masks are almost always dyed red. The masks were worn in circumcision rites.