hoe, unrecorded Chokwe artist

Exhibition Label:
"Chokwe Art from the Claude D. Brown Collection," Feb-2000
This hoe is decorated with the mask Cikunza. Cikunza is the father of initiation, representing fertility and continuity. This mask shares its name with a grasshopper that is known for its procreative powers. The long pointed head of the mask represents a roan antelope, and the rings around the cone are interpreted as growth rings.
Woman used ceremonial hoes in some dances, or they were used to represent women in dances. The decoration and smaller size of this hoe sets it apart from hoes actually used in agriculture.