Kuba Mask
Wooden mask of male with burlap on back with cowry shells and blue, green, and white glass beads. Slit eyes. painted red, white, and black design elements. wooden carved ears attached to the burlap.
- Object: Kuba Mask
- Artist: -
- Circa: -
- Dimensions: 13"H x 9" W
- Culture Area: Africa / Democratic Republic of Congo
- Cultural Group: Kuba / Democratic Republic of Congo
- Cultural Context: Face Mask (Ngady Mwaash) Late 19th-mid 20th century - Kuba Kasai region, Democratic Republic of the Congo Central Africa This mask resembles the ngady mwaash mask which honors the role of women in Kuba life. It portrays a woman but, like other masks in Africa, is performed by a man. The most popular appearance of ngady mwaash is in a pantomime about the kingdom’s creation: ngady mwaash dances together with the mooshamb-wooy mask, representing the king (who is both her brother and her husband), and the bwoom mask The Ngaady-a-Mwash is one of a triad of masks that are danced to symbolize mythical characters and culture heroes important to the origins of Kuba kingship. Ngaady-a-Mwash is the sister and wife of the Kuba's legendary original king. The interplay between masked dancers who portray Ngaady-a-Mwash and two of her mythical suitors teaches the people the balance of power between the king and his subjects. These masks are worn during dances for initiation rites, funeral ceremonies, royal gatherings, as well as in the yearly retelling of the story of the origins of the Kuba people. The color and designs on this mask are important symbols: red suggests suffering; white stands for mourning; and blue means high rank or status. Triangles signify hearthstones and domesticity, and the lines under the eyes represent tears indicating the hardships of women. The strip of beadwork that covers the mouth of the mask indicates the silence of women. (https://www.artic.edu/artworks/106184/face-mask-ngady-mwaash). ( https://www.dia.org/art/collection/object/nagaady-mwaash-mask-51342) Ngady a Mwaash is the female mask in a triad of Kuba royal masks. The color and designs on this mask are important symbols: red suggests suffering; white stands for mourning; and blue means high rank or status. Triangles signify hearthstones and domesticity, and the lines under the eyes represent tears indicating the hardships of women. The strip of beadwork that covers the mouth of the mask indicates the silence of women. The mask - which is worn by men - is used in funerary and initiation ceremonies, as well as in the yearly retelling of the story of the origins of the Kuba people. (http://www.everhart-museum.org/Collection/Ngady.htm) Kuba Creation Myth (adapted): In the beginning there was only darkness, water, and the great god Bumba. One day Bumba, in pain from a stomach ache, vomited up the sun. The sun dried up some of the water, leaving land. Still in pain, Bumba vomited up the moon, the stars, and then some animals: the leopard, the crocodile, the turtle, and, finally, some men. After creating the world, the great god sent his sons Woot and Bwoom with their sister Mweel to bring culture to the Kuba people. Woot was a wise and thoughtful ruler who brought government to the people and taught them arts and crafts. Woot became leader of the Kuba and married his beautiful sister Mweel. Woot’s brother, Bwoom, was very rude and ill-mannered, as well as being aggressive and jealous of his older brother. In an epic battle, Bwoom and Woot fought for the love of Mweel and the right to the throne. This mask in special is a Mweel mask. It is the ideal, beautiful woman. Diamond patterns emphasize her smooth brow; white and black triangles represent hearth and home; lines on cheeks represent tears because of the pain women must bear and also because these are funerary masks. https://umfa.utah.edu/kuba-masks Research and writeup by student employee Debora Vitaliano 09_08_2022
- Donor: Barbara & Hiro Narita
- Catalog #: 114.191