Who Are the Pende?
The Pende (Phende) are a Bantu ethnic group of southwestern Democratic Republic of Congo and northwestern Angola, numbering approximately 600,000-800,000. They speak Pende, a Bantu language. The Pende inhabit the Kwilu and Kwango river regions, divided into Western (or Kwilu) and Eastern (or Kasai) Pende with distinct artistic styles. Historically subjects of the Lunda Empire, the Pende migrated westward in the 17th-18th centuries. They are renowned for their elaborate masquerade traditions, producing some of Central Africa's most expressive and dynamic masks. Pende masks are prized by collectors and displayed in major world museums.
Masquerade Traditions
Pende masquerades (mbuya) rank among Africa's most elaborate. The masks perform during mukanda (male initiation), funerals, and community celebrations. Each mask type has a specific name, character, and role. The mbuya jia mukanda (initiation masks) teach moral lessons through satirical and serious performances. The giphogo (chief's mask) represents political authority. The panya-ngombe (disease-causing mask) dramatizes illness. Masks range from realistic to abstract, with characteristic triangular eyes and distorted features. The performances combine masks, costumes, music, and dance into theatrical productions conveying cultural values. This masquerade tradition demonstrates Pende artistic sophistication and social complexity.
Colonial Resistance
The Pende are notable for their 1931 revolt against Belgian colonial rule—one of the largest uprisings in Congo's colonial history. Sparked by abuses related to forced labor and taxation, the rebellion spread across Pende territory. Belgian forces brutally suppressed the revolt, killing hundreds and executing leaders. The Pende chief Matemu was tried and executed. This resistance demonstrated Pende unwillingness to accept colonial exploitation passively. The 1931 revolt remains significant in Congolese historical memory as an example of anticolonial resistance. It shaped Belgian policies and Pende relations with colonial authorities for the remaining decades of colonial rule.
Contemporary Pende
Modern Pende face challenges common to DRC's rural populations: limited infrastructure, health care, and educational opportunities. The Kwilu and Kwango regions have experienced political instability and periodic conflict. Traditional institutions—chiefs, initiation, masquerades—continue with modifications. Christianity has become widespread, coexisting with traditional beliefs. Agriculture, particularly cassava and millet, provides subsistence. Some artists produce masks and sculptures for the international market, though authenticity concerns arise. Many Pende have migrated to Kinshasa. How the Pende maintain their remarkable masquerade traditions while navigating DRC's ongoing difficulties shapes this artistically distinguished people's future.
References
- Strother, Z. S. (1998). Inventing Masks: Agency and History in the Art of the Central Pende
- De Sousberghe, L. (1959). L'Art Pende
- Nziem, I. N. (1998). Histoire Générale du Congo