YAKA MASK DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO Polychrome wood H.: 40 cm (15³?? in.) A Yaka mask, Democratic Republic of the Congo Provenance: Collection of Jean-Jacques Rotthier (1932–2009), Brussels, then passed down through the family This polychrome panel depicts the head of a red-tailed parrot. It is the companion piece to the one held at the Royal Museum for Central Africa in Tervuren (inv. no. 39.959). This sculpture was originally part of a Kikaku, a richly decorated ritual pavilion erected for male initiation ceremonies. Set up in isolated camps in the bush, the Kikaku was the site of a long period of ritual seclusion. During this transitional phase, the initiates undertook a demanding training programme designed to develop their endurance and to impart to them customary laws, as well as the traditions and mythological tales inherited from their ancestors. This training also included learning to hunt, acquiring various practical skills, and mastering the rules of conduct governing life in society, particularly relations with women. The Kikaku thus played an essential role in passing on the community’s knowledge, values and cultural identity. A YAKA MASK DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO Polychromed wood H.: 15³?? in. Provenance: Jean-Jacques Rotthier Collection (1932–2009), Brussels, then by descent This colourful panel depicts the head of a red-tailed parrot. It is the counterpart of a related example held at the Royal Museum for Central Africa in Tervuren (inv. no. 39.959). The carving originally formed part of a Kikaku, a richly decorated ritual hut erected for male initiation ceremonies. Situated within secluded bush encampments, the Kikaku served as the setting for an extended period of ritual seclusion. During this transitional phase, initiates underwent rigorous training designed to build endurance, impart knowledge of customary laws, and pass on ancestral traditions and mythologies. Instruction also covered hunting techniques, practical skills, and prescribed codes of conduct governing social relations, particularly interactions with women.