An exceptional promotion for our national symbols! On the cover of the latest issue of GQ, superstar Jay-Z is honoring Congolese roots. He features a Songye mask, known as Kifwebe (from the Kasaï region), against a background of Kuba cloth. The term Kifwebe, which means "The Face," refers simultaneously to the mask, the secret society that holds it, and the dance itself. The Songye people live in the Lomami River region, in the current provinces of Kasaï-Oriental and Lomami. Although they share roots with the Luba, the Songye have developed a very distinct artistic identity, characterized by rigorous geometric forms. The fact that Jay-Z is posing with this mask against a backdrop of Kuba cloth creates a cultural "super-connection," as the Kuba and the Songye are two of the most prestigious artistic cultures of the DRC. #DRCMaskSongye #DRCCulture
