Kuba Mask (Pwoom Itok)
Place of originKasai Region, Republic of Congo
Kuba Mask (Pwoom Itok)
Dateearly 20th century
Mediumwood and polychrome with cloth and beads
Dimensionsoverall: 12 3/8 × 10 1/2 × 15 1/2 in. (31.4 × 26.7 × 39.4 cm) 3/1/2019
ClassificationRITUAL OBJECTS
Credit LineSBMA, Gift of the Women's Board
Object number1969.50
Subject(s)
- heads and faces
Collection
- African
On View
Not on viewLabel TextThis mask, part of a trio, represents a warrior and is danced by members of the Babende initiation society at funerals of its members. The projecting eyes are said to resemble those of a chameleon, with holes surrounding that allow the wearer limited vision as he (always a male) dances. The cheek stripes are said to be “mournful tears” shed at the funeral honoring a deceased society member. Feathers that decorated the top of the mask are missing, as is the elaborate costume of layered raffia cloth and the dance wands held in each hand. Ishyeen Maalu dances vigorously, with high kicks and expressive pantomime gestures down the village avenue and before the community elders and in front of the corpse of the deceased man.
