Tschokwe

Among the multiple spellings of the term prevails the present, coined by ethnologists, according to Jacques Maquet. This people, once dedicated to pillaging and war raids for the capture of slaves, now occupies mainly in the centre and south of Angola in the border area with Zambia and the former Zaire (Democratic Republic of the Congo) in whose territories there are some established nuclei. Their bellicose spirit has not prevented them from excelling in the arts of forging and sculpture on wood. This cruciform interlacing, that characteristic cross that appears on the forehead of masks, jewels and some other objects, seems to find its origin in the cross of the Order of the Christ of Portugal, which he would have seen in some Portuguese soldiers. Famous sculptures such as the statues of the founding hero Tshinda Ilunga and the mwana-pwo masks female representations are widely known in the world of African art, as well as the cyhongo masks, male representations that bestow power and wealth.