Lwena Mask, Luvale Or Lovale Mbunda, Angola Zambia Or Zaire

The Lwena Bantu people, settled in Zambia (Angola) in the 19th century, under the threat of the Chokwe. According to Wikipedia, they have many names: Balovale, Baluvale, Chiluvale, Louvale, Lovale, Lovalle, Lubale, Luena, Luvales, Luwale, Lwena, Valuvale! But they are a small ethnic group quite rare in the collections, here is a very characteristic mask with this large stretched realistic face, the eyes and the mouth quite thin, probably representing the Western settlers in post at the beginning of the last century . We find these same facial features on a Lwena mask from the German collection of Peter Loebarth (last photo).
Note the beautiful brown patina and the significant traces of use, internal and external. Height 30cm.
Former Belgian Serge Sheer collection, thank you for your understanding!