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This mask is from the Kuba kingdom in central Africa. Many legends surround the mask's possible identities, which include the king’s brother, a common man, a nature spirit, and a pygmy. Bwoom is one of three masks connecting the Kuba’s mythological origins to their political statecraft. The others are Mwaash aMbooy (representing the king and the Kuba mythological ancestor, Woot) and Ngady mwaash (depicting the queen as well as the beautiful woman Mweel).
Carved from wood, the Bwoom mask’s helmet-like form and pronounced forehead and jaw are distinctive. Cowries, glass beads, and other costly materials adorn its surface, attesting both to the complex creation of the mask and the Kuba’s long-distance trade networks. Dancers wear the mask over the head with an intricate costume of fabrics, grasses, and feathers for dramatic performances held to celebrate significant events in the kingdom.Label Type
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Gift of Klare and William Scarborough