A Yaka mask, Democratic Republic of Congo. Used in the Mukanda coming of age ceremony, a ceremony that symbolises the rebirth as a man from a young boy. Young boys spend their initiation period separated from their village and made to go through a series of challenges to test their courage. The face of the mask is carved from wood. The face has oval eyes, a circular open mouth with teeth exposed, and a horn or upturned nose. At the top of the mask is a black fabric hat with yellow and red dots with four horns pointing upwards. Below the hat and around the mask face is think bundles of raffia. Height 94 cm, width 38 cm, depth 30 cm