The Kuba (or Bakuba) are a confederation of 18 ethnic groups in central southern Congo. Since time immemorial, the ‘king’ or ‘Nyim’ of all the Bakuba comes from the sub-tribe of the Bushoong. The Kuba have more than 20 different Mask-design as appear during dance presentations. But the most important are the three ‘royal’ masks! These are: ‘Mwaash amboy’ - a mask representing the mythical king and founder of the tribe, ‘Ngaady amwaash - representing his sister and concurrent wife, and the ‘Bwoom’ mask representing the king’s brother. This latter envies the ‘Mwaash amboy’ as much for the royal honour and might as for the wife. Using this triangulation of power, love and resistance, the Kuba develop grand dramatic dance spectacles, centering on the tribe’s origins myth.
The present large helmet or pull-on mask represents ‘Bwoom’, the defiant, rebellious brother of the king: Carved as a single piece from relatively light, light-coloured wood and dyed black in its entirety. Die wide, flat apex of the mask’s head is covered with animal fur (with tails) - brown, with black spots. The angular hairstyle attached underneath is in the typical Kuba style (with pronounced receding hairline). The wide forehead is thrust forward and resolved in relief with finely executed triangles. As are also the two curved stripes of scarification marks on the cheeks. Right by the large, wide nose. Further particularities often seen with ‘Bwoom’ masks: Neither a ‘mouth’ nor ‘eyes’ or ‘eye-slots’ are present, for the dancer to look through. The dancer wears the mask tilted on the head and looks through the large cut out nose openings. Incised in relief as lines on the verso of the mask is a typical geometric symbol of the Bakuba.
A perfect object at an unusual age, with excellent shiny patina as a result of protracted use (on the outside as well as on the inside). Height: 24 cm; Width: 28 cm; Length: 40 cm. First third of the 20th century. (ME)

Provenance:
According to the consignor, acquired by himself in 1984 in Congo, in the Misumba village, in the ‘West-Kasai’ province. Then: Austrian Collection.

Lit.:
‘Afrika’ by Michel Leiris & Jacqueline Delange, ill. 396; 'Das zweite Gesicht. Masken aus der Sammlung Barbier-Mueller, Genf' by Iris Hahner-Herzog, Maria Kecskési & László Vajda, ill. p. 83/84; 'Het Gelaat van de Geesten' by F. Herreman & C. Petridis, ill. 60; '100 peoples of Zaire and their sculpture' by Marc L. Felix, ill. p. 63.