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Name |
BWOOM HELMET MASK |
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Background / Origin |
Kuba Bwoom – wooden helmet mask (old & worn) |
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Description |
Bwoom masks vary but they are the oldest type of masks
throughout the vast Kuba kingdom. Most are made from the
Ricinodenron, a tree with light weight wood that is easy
to carve and are then decorated with cowry shells and
glass beads. Many different materials are used to show
differences from village to village. The original
prototype of the Bwoom mask is unknown since the
originals have all decomposed. The Kuba throughout
history have always carved the helmets in this soft
wood, which disintegrates before 200 years. Consequently
not much is known about the Kuba’s past According to
legend Bwoom was sent to earth by his father the great
God Woot, to establish the Kuba kingdom. It is believed
that the masks were introduced in the 17th century by
King Miko miMbul. According to tradition, he received
the masks from the Cwa, a pygmy subgroup of the Kuba.
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Reference Number |
77/57 |
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Height |
N/A |
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Price |
US$ 250 |
 
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