At The Met

de bene esse: literally, of well-being, morally acceptable but subject to future validation or exception 

These masks are idealized female faces whitened with kaolin. Members of an initiation association whose authority transcends that of both family and village, ngontang wearers are engaged in quests for sorcerers and criminals and in combatting evil.

Featured Artwork of the Day: Janus-Faced Helmet Mask (Ngontang) | 19th-20th century | Gabon http://met.org/120nuac