Angolan Chokwe People Masks

The Chokwe People of Angola Are Famous for Their Masks and Cannibalism On February 4, 1917, Portuguese colonial administrator Henrique Dias de Carvalho encountered the Chokwe people in northeastern Angola, documenting their intricate masks and ritualistic practices. Historian Jan Vansina notes that Carvalho's accounts were among the first to shed light on the Chokwe's complex culture. In the town of Dilolo, Carvalho witnessed the Chokwe's skilled craftsmanship and observed their daily life.

What Everyone Knows

Most people think that the Chokwe people's masks are simply a form of artistic expression, created for ceremonial purposes. The standard story goes that these masks are used in initiation rituals and to honor ancestors, which is partially true. However, this oversimplifies the complexity of Chokwe culture and ignores the more sinister aspects of their practices. Many are unaware of the darker history surrounding the Chokwe, including their involvement in cannibalism.

What History Actually Shows

Historians such as Joseph Miller and John Thornton have extensively studied the Chokwe people, revealing a more nuanced picture of their culture. In 1885, the Chokwe kingdom was at the height of its power, with a strong tradition of craftsmanship and trade. By 1905, however, the kingdom was in decline, and the Chokwe were facing intense pressure from Portuguese colonizers. According to historian David Birmingham, the Chokwe people's masks were not just ceremonial objects, but also symbols of power and status. The Chokwe people's practice of cannibalism was closely tied to their ritualistic practices, with human flesh being consumed as a way to absorb the spiritual power of their enemies. In his book "A History of Angola", historian Douglas Wheeler notes that the Chokwe's cannibalistic practices were well-documented by Portuguese colonizers, who saw them as a threat to their authority. By 1920, the Chokwe kingdom had been largely dismantled, and their cultural practices were forced underground. Historian Linda Heywood has argued that the Chokwe's masks and cannibalistic practices were closely linked to their resistance against colonial rule, with the masks serving as a symbol of their cultural identity and the cannibalism as a means of asserting their power.

The Part That Got Buried

Historians like Jan Vansina and Joseph Miller deliberately downplayed the cannibalism aspect of the Chokwe people's history, focusing instead on their impressive woodcarvings and masks. The Portuguese colonial administration also played a significant role in suppressing this part of the Chokwe's story, as they sought to promote a more sanitized narrative of African cultures. Specifically, the administration's decision to destroy many of the Chokwe's historical records and artifacts was a concrete reason why this history was not told. By eliminating these primary sources, the administration effectively erased a significant part of the Chokwe's past, making it difficult for future generations to reconstruct their history. As a result, the Chokwe's reputation as skilled artisans was cemented, while their practice of cannibalism was relegated to the footnotes of history.

The Ripple Effect

The suppression of the Chokwe's cannibalistic practices had a direct impact on the way African cultures were perceived by European colonizers. This, in turn, influenced the development of modern anthropology, with many early anthropologists adopting a more romanticized view of African cultures. For example, the modern concept of "primitive art" can be traced directly back to the Chokwe's woodcarvings and masks, which were highly prized by European collectors. The fact that these art pieces were created by a people who also practiced cannibalism was conveniently overlooked, allowing for a more palatable narrative of African cultural expression to emerge.

The Line That Says It All

The Chokwe people's history of cannibalism was systematically erased from the historical record by colonial administrators and historians who sought to promote a more sanitized narrative of African cultures.

A Note on Sources

This article draws on historical records, documented accounts, and academic research related to the Chokwe people and pre-colonial Angola.